Baby.mobi
Kangaroo Mother Care is where a mother uses her own body temperature to keep her baby warm. It is the best way of providing a mother’s warmth, stimulation, love and protection.
In KMC the naked baby (wearing only a nappy, socks and woolen cap) is usually placed upright on the mother’s chest between her breasts. Both are covered with a blanket or a shirt, facilitating skin-to-skin nurturing. It also enables mom to either breastfeed the baby directly, or feed the baby through the nasogastric tube every two hours.
It is a proven fact that KMC has reduced the infant mortality rate of low-birth weight babies dramatically in every country it is practised. It also encourages and facilitates bonding between mother and baby, and mom feels more ‘in control’ and less stressed when she is with her baby.
From a support point of view, although it is called Kangaroo MOTHER Care, fathers are encouraged to become more actively involved in the care of their preemie babies. This helps build the bond between father and baby – and also helps support the mother during this time.
In addition, once the baby goes home, this intimate and sustained care can be extended to other members of the immediate family who could help. KMC is an on-going process that ensures the survival of the preemie baby.
LEAVING THE HOSPITAL
It is a good idea to make an appointment for your baby’s first check-up before you leave the hospital. Also ask about any special care that you might have to give your baby. Speak to the healthcare worker about infant cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR), a combination of rescue breathing (mouth-to-mouth resuscitation) and chest compressions.
Once at home, if you are worried about whether you should go to the clinic or not because your baby is ill – trust your instincts! Be especially aware of:-
> A high temperature (higher than 38 C)
> Symptoms of dehydration – crying without tears, sunken eyes, a depression in the soft spot on the baby’s head, no wet nappies for six hours or more
> A soft spot that bulges when the baby is quiet and upright
> Rapid or laboured breathing
> Repeated forceful vomiting and an inability to keep fluids down
> Bloody vomit or stool
> More than eight diarrhoea nappies in eight hours
