Kangaroo Care

The following article is courtesy of The March of Dimes®.
www.marchofdimes.com

What is Kangaroo Care?

March of Dimes

Kangaroo Care is a method of holding your baby in the NICU that is beneficial for both you and your baby. Kangaroo Care gives you the opportunity to hold your baby close, with skin-to-skin contact. Your baby will lie on your bare chest dressed in a diaper and hat. Your body heat will transfer to your baby to keep him or her warm. Your baby will benefit from the warmth of your skin, the sound of your heart beat, and the gentle rhythm of your breathing.

You will sit in a reclining chair at your baby’s bedside. You can wear a loose fitting gown or a button down shirt. Your nurse will help you place your baby on your bare chest so that his or her skin will be in contact with your skin. Your nurse will then place a blanket over both of you. This enables you to embrace your baby in a special way that will provide warmth and nurturing as only parents can do. Curtains are available for privacy.

How Did Kangaroo Care Begin?

Kangaroo Care was first developed in Bogota, Colombia in 1979 by two neonatologists. There were not enough isolettes available to keep the premature infants warm. Therefore they had parents provide Kangaroo Care to give the warmth needed to maintain their temperatures. The results of this method of holding were so impressive that Kangaroo Care has been adopted in neonatal nurseries around the world. The name Kangaroo Care was chosen because of the similarity of care that kangaroos provide to their newborn young.

When Can Parents Begin Kangaroo Care for their Baby?

Each baby is different but Kangaroo Care can begin as soon as your baby is medically stable. Discuss with your baby’s primary team that you would like to kangaroo and they will let you know when you and your baby can begin. The length of time you may Kangaroo will vary depending on you and your baby. Once you are able to begin Kangaroo Care, your baby’s nurse will monitor your baby closely while you both relax and enjoy each other.

What are the benefits of Kangaroo Care?

Research supports that skin-to-skin holding is beneficial for both babies and their parents. It allows parents an opportunity to contribute to their infant’s care and progress during their NICU stay. Kangaroo Care benefits infants in the following ways:

  • improved temperature regulation
  • improved weight gain and growth
  • improved regulation of breathing patterns
  • improved breastfeeding and milk production
  • improved heart rate stability
  • improved oxygenation
  • improved restful sleep patterns
  • improved behavioral states

Points to Remember

  • Remove jewelry that might come in contact with your baby.
  • Wear comfortable clothing that easily opens in the front.
  • Plan to stay for at least one hour.
  • Lean back, relax and enjoy your baby.
  • Before starting, take care of your own personal needs (food, fluid, and bathroom).

 

This article © The March of Dimes.