Snuggle Up
Inside New Delhi’s
Safdarjung Hospital,
just born twins nestle
against the skin of their
aunt Neerja Kumari,
while their mother,
Sunita, recuperates.
Kangaroo mother care—
attending to newborns
while they rest skin-to-
skin against the mother
or a surrogate—is well
known, especially in
developing countries,
as a way to strengthen
fragile low-birth-weight
babies. A recent study
coordinated by the
World Health Organiza-
tion at Safdarjung and
four African hospitals
found that kangaroo
care is even more effec-
tive when it’s nearly
continuous and starts
immediately after birth,
rather than for a few
hours a day after the
baby is judged stable.
Researchers estimate
this approach could save
150,000 lives a year.
SAUMYA KHANDELWAL
maropa
(Maropa)
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