Remembering Dr. John Kennell and His Great Contributions to Mothers and Babies Worldwide

"It was with great sadness that I read about the death of Dr. John Kennell on August 27, 2013 in Cleveland, OH. Dr. Kennell, a pediatrician and researcher, had a long history of contributions to the field of maternal infant bonding and attachment, especially at birth and in the early postpartum period.  

"Every time a mother opens her arms to receive her newborn baby on her chest (in line with Lamaze Healthy Care Practice #6) at the moment of birth it is a credit to the work of Dr. Kennell and his colleagues, especially his longtime collaborator,  Dr. Marshall Klaus. Dr. Kennell examined and researched the connection (both physiological and emotional) of the newborn and its mother.  As a result of his research, the practice of separating mothers from their babies for hours or even days after birth has all but disappeared in the USA and many places around the world. Prior to Dr. Kennell’s work, little was understood about the newborn’s innate need to be close to and kept with its mother as it made the transition to life on the outside."