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Benefits of Kangaroo Mother Care

  • Mimics the environment of the womb - The baby has just been in a safe, enclosed, and warm environment. Wrapping a baby skin to skin mimics the familiar environment of the womb as the baby continues to receive touch, rhythm and pressure. Not only does the baby have a feeling of containment, but also the soothing and comforting sounds of his mother’s heart beat and breathing and rhythmic rocking that he was so accustomed to.
  • Regulates body temperature - A mother has actual “thermal synchrony” with her infant. When a baby is placed in the kangaroo position, skin to skin with his mother, the temperature of the mother’s breasts actually change so that her baby can better maintain his own temperature. If the baby gets too cold the mother’s body temperature will actually warm up one degree to help warm the baby. If the baby gets too hot, the mother’s body temperature will decrease one degree to cool the baby. This even works when twins are kangarooed (Ludington-Hoe, 2004). Furthermore, the flexed position that the baby assumes on his mother’s chest as opposed to lying on his back in an incubator is a more efficient position for conserving heat.
  • Enhances lactation, the prevalence, and the duration of breast-feeding - With easy access to the breast mothers experience easier let down, increased milk supply (Furman,2002). Mothers are more likely to breastfeed exclusively and have more success with prolonged nursing. (Figueroa de Leon)
  • Enhances immunological protection - If the mother is breastfeeding her baby, she will raise antibodies in response to all of the microbes that they come in contact with and transfer them to the baby (Lawn, 2010). Some antibodies can even be transferred skin to skin (Telemo,1996). Touch is so important to the healthy development of an infant that a lack of touch, or separation of mother and newborn, actually causes high amounts of the toxic stress hormone cortisol to be released. High levels of cortisol in the blood and separation from mother may negatively impact immune function as the body may stop producing leukocytes.
  • Lessens crying - Babies, both preterm and full-term, cry less when placed in skin to skin contact with their mothers. Decreased crying means less stress and subsequently lower levels of cortisol.
  • Enhances growth/weight gain – High cortisol levels that result from mother baby separation has a negative impact on growth hormone. With mother present to help assist in regulating the baby’s breathing, heart rate, and temperature, the baby has decreased energy needs and can conserve his energy and calories and direct it toward growth. (Charpak, 1997). In an upright prone position babies also regurgitate less (Ludington-Hoe, 1993)
  • Leads to shorter hospital stays – Babies that are practicing Kangaroo Care can have up to a 50% shorter hospital stay than babies who are not “kangarooed”. (Charpak,1997)
  • Provides a buffer against over-stimulation – In an upright prone position babies tolerate noise and activity around them much better (Ludington Hoe, 1993). A typical NICU is a very busy place
  • Supports arousal regulation - When held skin to skin with their mothers babies spend more time in a quiet alert state. When carried in mother’s arms the baby is in a safe place from which to view the world. It is from this safe known place that babies learn about the unknown. In a calm and alert state and in touch with mother, a baby is in the optimum state for observing and processing.
  • Reduces apnea and uneven breathing - Kangaroo Care markedly decreases apnea episodes in preterm infants (Ludington,1998). When a baby is placed skin to skin on the chest of either parent there is usually an improvement in breathing patterns. The baby can hear the breathing and it stimulates the baby’s breathing so that the baby imitates the parent.(Ludington,1998)
  • Stabilizes heart rate - Heart rate is actually more regular in babies under Kangaroo Mother Care (McCain, 2005). During KMC, bradycardia (low heart rate below 100) is markedly reduced and tachycardia (heart rates of 180or more) rarely occurs (Ludington-Hoe,1993). Babies’ cardio status stabilized faster after open heart surgery with Kangaroo Care (Gazollo, 2000). Heart rate is so important because baby’s brain requires a steady and consistent flow of blood to get the oxygen it needs to grow and perform properly.
  • Relieves Stress Reactions – Babies deal with pain better and cry less in response to pain (for procedures such as heel sticks) while in Kangarooed (Kostandy, 2008).
  • Improves neurobehavior - Preterm babies that were given many hours of KMC in the early weeks after birth, compared to those given little or no care, scored higher on mental and motor development tests in the first year of life (Charpak et al., 2005)
  • Increases oxygenation of the baby’s body (Feldman, 2003).
  • Assists in bonding process and builds attachment - increases maternal sensitivity, responsiveness and connectedness. (Dodd, 2005)
  • Builds parent confidence and competence - Holding baby close reduces stress among parents and family (Feldman et al., 2002, 2003). Kangaroo Mother Care empowers parents as they feel that they can do something incredibly beneficial and positive for their preterm infants
  • Helps parents play an active rather than passive role in their baby’s recovery
  • Provides longer periods of restful sleep – Kangaroo Care when carried out in a low light, quiet environment with any baby, full or preterm, helps babies to remain more calm and transition from one sleep state to another (Ferber, 2004). Preterm babies were found to have spent more time sleeping during Kangaroo Care (Messemer, 1997).
  • Saves lives- The latest studies show a 51 percent reduction in newborn mortality when babies (stable and less than 2 kg) were kangarooed within the first week after birth and breastfed by their mothers.(Lawn,2010)
  • Plus, it is safe. Not one study has proven that it can hurt your baby.

Kangaroo Care Articles

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World Prematurity Day and Kangaroo Care

By on December 2, 2012 in Birth, Kangaroo Care, Natural Parenting Style, Uncategorized

The second annual World Prematurity Day was observed on November 17, 2012. The World Health Organization (WHO), as well as numerous countries around the world continue to work to bring attention and change to the global challenge of the preterm births, which is the leading cause of neonatal mortality and the number two cause of…read more >

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Preemie Care: Mother’s Impact is Awesome

By on March 14, 2012 in Baby_Wearing, Birth, Family Journey, Featured Blog, Health and Wellness, Kangaroo Care, Moms Who Inspire

In the NICU, the primary value is high tech nursing.  The preemie is the patient.  His care is the priority.  He is considered as independent of the mother when he leaves the womb.  Mother often stands on the periphery as an outsider while the nurses take control and care for the baby.  But, get this.…read more >

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Kangaroo Care Eases Parental Anxiety

Kangaroo Care Eases Parental Anxiety

By on January 29, 2012 in Family Journey, Growth, Health and Wellness, Kangaroo Care, Uncategorized

Six weeks out of the year about 40 horses run wild in the open space behind my house. While attempting to lure them close to the barbed wire with carrots and long green grass, I met two ten year old twin boys and their mother. After complementing me on my three kids, she went on…read more >

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Optimal Position for Preemies Must Provide Feeling of Containment

By on January 25, 2012 in Child Development, Health and Wellness, Kangaroo Care

I remember when I was still involved in print advertising with our graphic designer in Miami.  The copywriter tried to come up with some slogan for our full page ad. I remember coming up with, “Sleepy Wrap, the best place after the womb”. We all know that babies crave the familiar containment and pressure of…read more >

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