“My baby is always hungry whenever I do KMC.” (mother)

“Mothers who perform KMC frequently produce more breast milk and are better in breastfeeding (direct breastfeeding) their babies.” (healthcare professional)

Why does KMC support breastfeeding?

By having your baby close to you, you will bond with your baby better. Your maternal instincts get started and will continue. You will feel more relaxed which in turn helps make your body produce more milk. 

As your baby is held so close to you during KMC, you will easily see your babies early feeding cues. Feeding cues are signs your baby shows when he/she is ready to feed. Early feeding cues include putting their hands in their mouth, sucking on their fists/fingers and lip smacking. These can be very subtle and can be easily missed if you are away from the baby. We do not want to wait until your baby is crying because that is a late sign and it means your baby has been very hungry for a long time. 

If you are able to pick up early feeding cues and start breastfeeding immediately, your baby feeds better and you do not have to console your upset baby before he/she starts feeding. It is even more important to pick up early cues for preterm babies because they usually do not have the energy to cry, and will miss an opportunity to feed. In fact, crying makes preterm babies tired, resulting in them not having the energy to breastfeed.