Dear Dr.Bolan (and friends of CHIFA), I downloaded the WHO documents that you have sent. They are of good quality and help in the management of preterm babies and training of ad hoc personnel.
I'd like to add an aspect that I found of equal good help, which I synthetise in the following : mothers are best
nurses for their babies.
If well instructed and oriented the mother is best. In my experience she has to handle her small baby, she has to feed him(and never a cow..), she has to give him love and heat(kangaroo).
I usually 'teach' mothers that the baby has come out too early, ideally he should go back inside, at least he should be ☆ one ☆with his mother.
Wash your hands....does not allow others to touch him....breast feed...report any change in his behaviour...keep him warm...
Mothers do understand and do wonderful!
It is possible that we medicalized too much preterm babies, we took years of research and studies before accepting the idea of Kangaroo. I think and suggest that we can go further and give power to mothers, more than now.
Greetings from Dodoma
Massimo
CHIFA profile: Massimo Serventi is a long-standing Pediatrician working in Africa since 1982. He has worked for several NGOs in 6 African/2 Asian countries. His interests include clinical and community pediatrics, adherence to clinical guidelines and school education as the major determinant of good health. massimoser20 AT gmail.com
