On Friday, May 29, 2009, John and I were invited to attend the Grand Rounds lecture at Children’s Hospital in Cincinnati. The speaker was an eminent researcher from Cape Town, South Africa, Dr. Nils Bergman (MD, DCH, MPH, PhD) and his topic was of great interest to us, “Perinatal Neuroscience and Skin-to-Skin Contact.” His goal in speaking to the hospital doctors and nurses was to persuade them to change the norm of care in the neonatal unit. He noted that the incubator was invented around the turn of the 19th-20th century by someone who placed some babies in it and toured. It sounded like a circus freak show. His point was that there was not one bit of scientific research or evidence, then or now, showing that the incubator is superior to skin-to-skin contact with the mother in terms of the health of the baby.
He was obviously aware of the challenge he was presenting to the doctors and nurses in terms of today’s claim to practice “evidence-based medicine.” At one point he interrupted himself to note that he expected that some of the audience were probably rolling their eyes or staring at the ceiling and wondering who let this guy in the door. He then proceeded to review the evidence demonstrating that the best place for the newborn baby is on the chest of the mother, even if the baby has special needs. In one hour this doctor from Cape Town, South Africa presented research to support his case. I made notes on some of his statements:
“90% of breastfeeding is not nutrition but sight, smell, taste, touch, skin-to-skin contact, etc.” “Breastfeeding is brain-wiring and is very important to the baby.”
“The environment the baby needs is the mother.”
“Mother is the key for neurodevelopment.”
“There is no reason to separate mother and baby.”
“The incubator has no scientific foundation.”
“Incubators de-stabilize newborns.”
“Incubators cause harm.”
“Mother stabilizes the newborn.”
“Skin-to-skin contact is necessary for premature babies.”
“Separated babies cry more and sleep less.”
“For improved child health we need to restore the baby to the Mother.”
At the end of the meeting, John asked, “Where in the world is this practiced?” Dr. Bergman replied, “Nowhere.” He then went on to say that there are pieces of excellence here and there, but no hospital has put it all together. He expressed the hope that Cincinnati Children’s might be the first to put it all together.
After the meeting we chatted briefly with a neonatalogist who was largely in agreement. He noted that the neonatal procedures are so rigorous that not even the doc can pick up the baby and hold him. It was a very rewarding Friday afternoon.
For more information about Dr. Bergman and his research, go to www.kangaroomothercare.com.
Sheila Kippley
The Seven Standards of Ecological Breastfeeding