A mother-neonatal intensive care unit keeps mothers and their sick and small neonates together after delivery.
Arrangement and maternal participation
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The mother's bed is placed beside the newborn's radiant warmer, enabling her to become an active caregiver and provide immediate KMC.
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Mothers can be trained in asepsis routines, feeding, and recognition of danger signs.
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The unit can provide routine postpartum care and manage common maternal postpartum morbidities.
Reported outcomes
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Care in these units improves neonatal survival, bonding, exclusive breastfeeding rates, and weight gain, while reducing hospital stay and maternal stress.
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A multicountry study demonstrated that immediate KMC provided by the mother or another caregiver reduced mortality by 25% among moderately sick infants weighing 1.0–1.79 kg.
Coordination
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Successful functioning requires coordination and collaboration with the obstetrics and gynecology team.