Kangaroo Mother Care
Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) is a simple, easy method of caring for newborn infants where the mother uses her own body temperature to keep her infant warm. KMC is particularly useful for nursing low birth weight infants (infants with a birth weight below 2500 g). KMC provides the infant with the basic needs for survival, i.e. mother’s warmth, stimulation, breast milk, love and protection. As 20 million low birth weight (LBW) infants are born each year worldwide, KMC has become a very important way of caring for these high risk infants. Unfortunately, attempts to lower the prevalence of LBW infants in poor countries has not been successful.
KMC has been shown to decrease mortality and morbidity in preterm and low birthweight infants by providing protection from infection, regulating temperature, breathing, and brain activity; and encouraging mother-baby bonding.
KMC has two essential components:
continuous and prolonged skin-to-skin contact between the mother and the baby is the basic feature of KMC. The infant is placed on her mother’s chest between the breasts.
Exclusive breast feeding: :
The baby on KMC is breastfed exclusively. Skin-to-skin contact promotes breast milk production and enables the small baby to learn sucking quickly. Intimate physical contact during KMC strengthens the emotional bonding between the mother and the baby.
KMC Procedure
⦁ The head should be turned to one side and in a slightly upturned position. This position helps in breathing of and allows eye-to-eye contact between the mother and her baby.
⦁ The legs and arms should be folded. Baby’s abdomen should be at the level of the mother’s upper abdomen.
⦁ Support the baby bottom with a sling/binder.
Feeding:
⦁ Holding the baby near the breast stimulates milk production.
⦁ Mother should express milk while the baby is still in KMC position.
⦁ The baby could be fed with paladai, cup, spoon or tube, depending on the condition of the baby.
Privacy:
KMC requires some exposure on the part of the mother. This can make her nervous and could be de-motivating. So mother should be provided some privacy for practicing KMC.
Duration :
To begin with, it may not be possible for the mother to provide KMC for a prolonged period of time. But each session of KMC should last at least an hour. The aim should be to provide KMC as long as possible preferably 24 hours a day.
Benefits of KMC:
⦁ Thermal control – Prolonged skin-to-skin contact between the mother and her LBW infant maintains temperature of baby in normal range. This is as good as keeping the baby in an incubator.
⦁ Early discharge – Studies show that KMC cared LBW infants can be discharged from the hospital earlier than the conventionally managed babies. The babies gain more weight on KMC than on conventional care.
⦁ Less sickness – Babies who receive KMC remain healthier during infancy than those without KMC. KMC protects babies against infections.
⦁ Other effects – KMC helps both infants and parents. Mothers are less stressed during kangaroo care than when the baby is receiving incubator care. They also experience a stronger bonding with the baby, increased confidence, and a sense of deep satisfaction that they are able to do something special for their babies. Fathers feel more relaxed, comfortable and better bonded while providing kangaroo care.