NICU
Kangaroo Care
Kangaroo Care is one of the most intimate ways a mother can bond with her infant. Often, when mom's deliver a preterm baby, the ability to bond between the two can be suddenly be taken away. Kangaroo Care allows for that physical and emotional connection to be reestablished.
So what exactly is kangaroo care? It is when the baby is places against the mother or father's bare skin )chest area) in only it's diaper. Even premature babies on oxygen and IVs can be placed in kangaroo care when they are stable enough.
Infants that are breastfeeding can benefit from this as well, as the baby is allowed to feed while kangaroo care is ongoing.
There have been numerous studies on the benefits of kangaroo care, and while varying reports debate how successful it is in helping improve the condition of the infant, there is one thing they all agree on. Kangaroo care poses no harm for the baby or the mother.
The studies done favoring kangaroo care have shown that it can help regulate an infant's body temperature (which is hard for them to do at preterm ages) by the mother's body cooling if the baby is too hot, or warming if the baby is too cold.
It has also proven to help keep a normal breathing rate and heart rate.
While kangaroo care cannot be done consistently and all the time, it can last for several hours.
Today, most neonatal intensive care units in the United States encourage kangaroo care. The benefits of helping keep the intimate bond between a mother and baby intact are completely worthwhile, and utterly priceless.