Early Childhood Business Forum (ecBF)

Did you know neuroscience shows that Mom’s brain changes as she expects, births and nurtures her baby? (Link below.) How about Dad’s brain, or that of a foster mom or caretaker? BabyGym Institute International programme director Cozette Laubser has the facts:
https://www.mariettesnyman.co.za/blog/nurture-your-baby-nurture-your-brain?rq=babygym

New Study: 20 mins a day skin-to-skin for very preterm babies associated with 10 point increase in neurodevelopmental outcomes at 12 months.

The Study:

In the study of 181 babies born before 32 weeks' gestation...

> The average time families had immediate skin-to-skin was...

> Just 17 minutes a day.

> The average was: 2 days/week, 70 minutes/session.

But, if babies had 20-minute extra skin-to-skin per day...

> this was associated with a 10-point increase in neurodevelopmental outcomes at 12 months.

The study by Lazarus MF et al., was published in J Pediatr. 2024.
Link to study > https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39004169/

My Take-Home Message:

Skin-to-skin has many benefits:

- calming and relaxing the baby

- regulating heart rate, breathing and temperature

- enhancing bonding

- release of oxytocin and reducing stress

- beneficial for the baby's skin microbiome

- positive impact on brain development

- perfect for establishing breastfeeding

According to neuroscientist Dr Nils Bergman:

(featured in both our 2023 and 2024 conferences)

• Skin-to-skin contact is the only PLACE for a newborn, even if very small and sick

• Even very preterm neonates can safely suckle

• Early separation does have short term and life long consequences

If just 20 mins MORE skin-to-skin contact per day is associated with a 10-point increase in neurodevelopmental outcomes at 12 months for very preterm babies...

Do we need to rethink NICU care to enable all preterm babies have an extra 20 mins skin-to-skin per day?

What would it take for this to happen?

Love to know your thoughts.

P.S. Watch Dr Nils Bergman’s 2 conference presentations (from 2023 and 2024) on the importance of skin-to-skin for a baby's neurodevelopment — plus bonus Q&A on Vimeo
>>> https://vimeo.com/1053749700