the importance of infant caps in Haiti

I've received several emails and comments asking an important question regarding infant caps in Haiti - Given the warm climate in Haiti, is it really necessary for newborns to have infant caps?

I turned to the folks at Konbit Sante for this answer for all of us:

"This is a really reasonable question, because Haiti does have a tropical climate, but there is more at play here than the ambient temperature....What people also need to remember is that Haiti has the highest infant mortality rate (and maternal mortality rate) in the western hemisphere...by far. This is  because the health and nutritional status of many (and in the poorer areas, most) mothers is very compromised during pregnancy, and therefore so is the health and nutrititional status of their babies. What our nurses have found is that the newborns, especially the premature and low-birth-weight babies are often very cold. A full-term healthy newborn has a store of fat which supplies sufficient calories to carry them for several days, and help them grow and thrive. Premature, and low-birth-weight babies don't have this. Even though it is warm in Haiti, the ambient temperature is usually less than the body temperature, and if these compromised babies have to use their calories to maintain body temperature, it is not going toward growth, and lessens their chances to survive and thrive. So in the context of an otherwise healthy population, the caps would not be so critical, but in the areas in which we are working, and for the newborns we have connections with, they are important.

Now obviously, the caps are not a panacea. They only assist with one small piece of the puzzle. This terrible situation is the result of the abject poverty in which many (most) women in Haiti live. They need adequate support in their lives and throughout their pregnancies, so that they have every opportunity to be healthy and have healthy children. They need economic opportunities, decent and accessible healthcare, access to education, etc... These caps will be used as part of safe birthing kits which are being provided to traditional birth attendants, who currently are the primary support to the majority of women who give birth at home. It helps improve the care they can render, and is also a way to strengthen a collaborative relationship with the Health Center, which improves referrals for women at high risk, etc... So it is part of a bigger picture and effort on the behalf of these women and their children, and there are certainly other types of support that would be helpful."

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And a reminder to those looking for other ways to contribute to this project, I'm hoping to roll out a Phase II soon with more crafting help we can offer. In the meantime, financial contributions to the work of Konbit Sante are always welcome and immediately helpful.

Thank you for your efforts, your enthusiasm and your crafting for this project!!!

Comments

[Tammie]

i am so loving this project.

i like the addition of the cap counter at the top of the page. hopefully i can get my caps mailed out soon.

[Eren]

This reminds me so much of when Zane and Ian were newborns. They were barely 5 lbs. a piece and had no body fat yet. Even though they were born during the summer in VA, we had to keep hats on them and wrapped in warm blankets to make sure they were able to maintain their body temps. Mailing my hats this week in honor of my two little ones (now big 6 year olds) that probably would not have made it if we had lived in Haiti and not the US. Great work Amanda.

[robyn]

thanks so much for this! i've been in the DR before (same island as Haiti), and so i've had a bit of experience with the "warm climate babes still need hats" thing, but i've run into a lot of people over the years who think it's only the babes in cold climates who need warmth. so i'm excited that there's this blog address now where i can send them when i'm asked the question!

also, for anyone who has the "last minute knitted gifts" book, there's a pattern in there for cotton hats. i'm thinking it's going to be a bit big, as it's for normal birthweight babes, but it's got ties on it, so it's the pattern i'm using for sure!

[Mary Beth]

Lovely answer. I was wondering about this too.

[Emma]

This post answers a question I've had for a long time!

[Cloudscome]

I am excited to join you in this and I blogged about it today. Great idea!!

[Dayna]

My daughter and I are having a great learning and crafting time with this. You are so lovely to organize this project. I am so pleased to be apart of it. Blogged about it today.

THANKS for ALL you do!!

[OldBikeRider]

There is another dimension to the cap issue. Haitien moms strongly embrace keeping thier newborns wrapped up. I think that the medical facts presented in the official answer might not be understood by the mama, but cultural practice has evolved to keep that body heat in.

Also, much of Haiti is mountainous, and it is pretty cool even at moderate altitudes. Where we lived, in Kenscoff, it was 58 Deg F plus/minus 3 degrees all year round inside our house at 1500 meters. When we brought our first child home to that place we had to keep him wrapped up as well. I hope that all of you contributing your hand made caps will also keep the people of this very unique place in your thoughts and prayers - and make a trip there one day. I am blessed to have spent a portion of my life there.

[Nikki]

I really applaud the generosity of this project... but as someone who hopes to get into work as a development professional, I question the sustainability of the project. (Meant to be constructive criticism... rather than negative!)

I'm just wondering about whether it may be of long term benefit to get the women of Haiti to make these hats and provide them to the birth attendants. Maybe it's the role of another project or another organisation but it is one of the basic tenants of international development that you seek to empower communities.

Aside from that, beautiful hats and I am sure the women that receive them will be most grateful and especially if it saves even one baby's life.

xo