The family's impact on newborns and mothers

Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) is a continuum of care (continuous skin-to-skin contact, exclusive breastfeeding, and clinical follow-up for high risk babies) that extends beyond the facility. Anyone in the family can provide KMC, including fathers, grandparents, and older siblings. Beyond the benefits to the newborn, there are benefits for caregivers as well, especially fathers. Encouraging them to be directly involved in caring for their newborn can have a long-term impact on the family as a whole. Additionally, it increases bonding and attachment between father and newborn. Learn more about KMC implementation at home here.

Even when KMC is not provided at home, it is important for fathers to be included in caregiving and raising their newborn. Studies show that when fathers are engaged and included in care decision making, families are healthier. This engagement is critical when making decisions around family planning, as women who are supported by their partners have fewer unmet contraceptive needs.

Other familial caregivers can have a deep impact in how a newborn is raised. In many cultures, grandparents, both maternal and paternal, can influence decisions around infant and young child feeding practices, the mother’s diet, newborn immunization, and when families seek care for their sick children. As such, engagement and education efforts should include grandparents where culturally relevant.

While maternal and newborn nutrition is important for healthy growth and development, the nutritional needs of the family should not be overlooked or deprioritized.  Food insecurity can develop from a multitude of reasons, but the impacts remain the same. Adolescents are especially vulnerable during periods of family undernutrition, as they are often deprioritized within nutritional programs. Their nutritional needs are unique; promoting healthy diets and developing nutrition-sensitive youth programs can improve their health outcomes long-term.

Food insecurity and undernutrition can be chronic, or can be seasonal. Climate change and its effects are some of the biggest contributors to both, and affect families in different ways. Conflict or natural disasters can also cause food insecurity. While there are many context-specific ways to address food insecurity, home gardens with seasonal vegetables and fruits is encouraged to promote food diversity.

Early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a child’s life reduces child mortality and has health benefits that extend into adulthood. Breastfeeding benefits not only the child but the mother and family also, as it is free of cost and reduces the risk of infection in newborns, enhances neurodevelopment, and reduces the risk of acquiring certain non-communicable illnesses in adulthood. Breastmilk substitutes and animal milk not only lack essential immune-building components, they also expose the infant to an increased risk of infection and morbidity through poor hygiene practices and unsafe drinking water. Exclusive breastfeeding can also serve as a contraceptive method for mothers. Lactational amenorrhea method, or LAM, is a highly effective (98%) contraceptive method within the first six months post-partum if used properly, meaning the mother exclusively breastfeeds and her menstrual cycle does not return during this time.

After six months of age, complementary feeding can begin, as the child’s nutritional needs start to exceed those provided by breastmilk alone. Soft, culturally appropriate foods are recommended, as is clean water and proper hygiene. Learn more about complementary feeding here.

The family’s overall sanitation and hygiene is important for newborn health. Good hygiene practices, including safe water and appropriate sanitation, reduce the spread of diseases and keep families healthy.

Women’s sexual and reproductive health needs extend beyond pregnancy. Family planning can be used at any phase of a woman’s reproductive life. Self-care, or the use of contraception by the individual using it, can help all women achieve reproductive autonomy. When initiated post-partum, it has a powerful impact on family health and cohesion. Learn more about self-care, specifically DMPA-SC, here.

All children should receive immunizations according to their country’s immunization schedules. On time immunizations protect the individual child as well as those who cannot be vaccinated, and keep communities safe from disease. Learn more about immunization here.