What is Kangaroo Mother Care?
Kangaroo Mother Care is a low cost, comprehensive method of care of stable Low Birth Weight Infants. The baby is placed between mother’s breasts in direct skin to skin contact and breastfed exclusively. It fosters their health and well being by promoting effective thermal control, breastfeeding, infection prevention and bonding. Skin-to-skin-contact promotes lactation and facilitates the feeding interaction.
Benefits of KMC
Research has proved beyond any doubt regarding benefits of KMC to baby, mother, family & community. Prolonged skin-to-skin contact between the mother and her preterm/ LBW infant provides effective thermal control with a reduced risk of hypothermia. Mothers are less stressed during kangaroo care …show more content…
Baby is suitably dressed with cap, socks, nappy, and front-open sleeveless shirt. The baby’s chest is not covered to allow skin to skin contact. The head should be turned to one side & in a slightly extended position which helps to keep the airway open and allows eye to eye contact between the mother & her baby. The hips should be flexed and abducted in a “frog” position; the arms should also be flexed. Baby’s abdomen should be at the level of the mother’s epigastrium. Mother’s heartbeats & breathing stimulate the baby, thus reducing the occurrence of apnea. Baby should receive most of the necessary care including feeding while in Kangaroo position. They need to be removed from skin to skin contact only for changing diapers & clinical assessment. A comfortable chair with adjustable back may be useful to provide KMC during sleep and …show more content…
Sessions that last less than one hour should be avoided because frequent handling may be stressful for the baby. The length of skin-to-skin contacts should be gradually increased up to 24 hours a day, interrupted only for changing diapers.
Monitoring
Monitoring attains special significance in KMC. Mother should be involved in observing the baby during KMC so that she herself can continue monitoring at home. Nursing staff should make sure that baby’s neck position is neither too flexed nor too extended, airway is clear, breathing is regular, color is pink and baby is maintaining temperature. Monitoring growth is mandatory. Mother should be educated to recognize danger signs & to report to health care facility immediately.
Discharge criteria
The standard policy of the unit for discharge from the hospital should be followed. Generally the following criteria is accepted at most centres :
• Baby’s general health is good and no evidence of
Kangaroo Mother Care is a low cost, comprehensive method of care of stable Low Birth Weight Infants. The baby is placed between mother’s breasts in direct skin to skin contact and breastfed exclusively. It fosters their health and well being by promoting effective thermal control, breastfeeding, infection prevention and bonding. Skin-to-skin-contact promotes lactation and facilitates the feeding interaction.
Benefits of KMC
Research has proved beyond any doubt regarding benefits of KMC to baby, mother, family & community. Prolonged skin-to-skin contact between the mother and her preterm/ LBW infant provides effective thermal control with a reduced risk of hypothermia. Mothers are less stressed during kangaroo care …show more content…
Baby is suitably dressed with cap, socks, nappy, and front-open sleeveless shirt. The baby’s chest is not covered to allow skin to skin contact. The head should be turned to one side & in a slightly extended position which helps to keep the airway open and allows eye to eye contact between the mother & her baby. The hips should be flexed and abducted in a “frog” position; the arms should also be flexed. Baby’s abdomen should be at the level of the mother’s epigastrium. Mother’s heartbeats & breathing stimulate the baby, thus reducing the occurrence of apnea. Baby should receive most of the necessary care including feeding while in Kangaroo position. They need to be removed from skin to skin contact only for changing diapers & clinical assessment. A comfortable chair with adjustable back may be useful to provide KMC during sleep and …show more content…
Sessions that last less than one hour should be avoided because frequent handling may be stressful for the baby. The length of skin-to-skin contacts should be gradually increased up to 24 hours a day, interrupted only for changing diapers.
Monitoring
Monitoring attains special significance in KMC. Mother should be involved in observing the baby during KMC so that she herself can continue monitoring at home. Nursing staff should make sure that baby’s neck position is neither too flexed nor too extended, airway is clear, breathing is regular, color is pink and baby is maintaining temperature. Monitoring growth is mandatory. Mother should be educated to recognize danger signs & to report to health care facility immediately.
Discharge criteria
The standard policy of the unit for discharge from the hospital should be followed. Generally the following criteria is accepted at most centres :
• Baby’s general health is good and no evidence of