What are the Benefits of Kangaroo Care for Premature Babies?

Introduction

A premature baby, or a preemie, is a baby born before the completion of 37 weeks of pregnancy. So, why do premature babies need special care? Premature babies may have underdeveloped body parts and systems like the lungs, immune system, digestive system, and skin. This is why they will require intensive care during the first few weeks to months of their lives, depending on how much time before the due date they were born. Though they are not fully ready to deal with the outside environment and are at a higher risk of complications, medical technology has increased their survival rate.

Premature Baby Care

As your preemie will require special care, the following can help you achieve premature baby care.

1. Gain more information about your preemie’s condition

Because being in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) can be daunting, write down your queries and get them resolved. This will help relieve your anxiety.

2. Share your concerns

If you observe any changes in your preemie, do share these observations or any other concerns that you may have with your doctor.

3. Establish a milk supply

Breast milk is a rich source of proteins and antibodies that will help in building your preemie’s immune system. Start pumping immediately after the birth to ensure a good milk supply.

4. Spend time with your baby

Bonding with your baby by reading, holding, cradling, or skin-to-skin contact will help you grow closer and establish a stronger maternal bond with your preemie.

5. Taking care of yourself

Avoid neglecting yourself. Take a break and acknowledge your emotions, giving yourself adequate time to heal too.

Kangaroo mother care for premature babies

Due to the increased rate of preemie mortality and lack of space in NICUs in developing countries, a concept called “Kangaroo Mother Care” (KMC) was developed around 25 years ago in Bogota, Colombia. The skin-to-skin contact between mother and infant is called KMC. In KMC, the infant is dressed only in a diaper and cap and is held by the mother in an upright prone (lying on the abdomen) position against the bare chest of the mother. The infant may be covered with a blanket to keep the heat in. The duration of each session of KMC lasts 1-3 hours, during which the infant’s heart, temperature, and breathing are monitored.

Benefits of Kangaroo mother care for premature babies

The benefits of KMC for premature babies are as follows.

• It helps in stabilising the baby’s heart rate.
• It improves the oxygen delivery to the infant’s organs.
• It helps in improving the breathing pattern of the infant, thus regularising the breathing.
• It helps with weight gain.
• It decreases crying.
• It enhances the success of breastfeeding.
• It decreases hospital stays.

How to take care of a premature baby?

Before your preemie can be discharged, they will have to gain a certain amount of predetermined weight, depending on the hospital policy. Till then, how will you take care of your premature baby, and how can you contribute to their improvement? By taking care of the following concerns, you can help prepare yourself and your preemie for discharge.

1. Say yes to “nesting”

Nesting is a process in which you spend a night with your preemie before being discharged. This helps you to gain confidence in holding him/her, changing their diapers and breastfeeding.

2. Find a paediatrician

Before discharge itself, identify a paediatrician who has experience in treating preemies and those who have been discharged from the N.I.C.U. Clear all your doubts and concerns regarding what specialised care your baby will need after discharge, including nursing visits or specialised doctor visits. This can then be identified earlier. So, identify the appropriate doctors to whom you can go for the same.

3. Identification of tests required

Your preemie may require certain tests, including blood, vision, and hearing tests post-discharge to identify whether there are any concerns with your preemie. Make sure that you understand what is required and whom to contact for the same.

4. Learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (C.P.R.)

C.P.R. is a life-saving process to revive an individual’s heart or breathing after it has stopped. As your baby may be on a monitor and may require C.P.R., it is better to learn the technique and get certified, if possible, within the hospital before the discharge of your baby.

5. Attend a discharge debrief

Prior to the discharge of your preemie, it is best to attend a discharge debrief with the doctors and staff who have been handling your preemie to clear up any concerns and gain confidence in caring for it.

Taking care of a premature baby at home

Once home, you will need to equip yourself to care for your preemie in the absence of medical staff. Though this may seem a daunting task, the following premature baby care tips can help you better prepare for this.

• Ensuring the right temperature for your baby- To ensure this, invest in a digital thermometer and maintain your preemie’s body temperature at 36.5-37.3 C (97.6-99.1 F). The room temperature should be 20-23 C.
• Bathing your baby- The water used for bathing your baby should be warm, not hot. Avoid using any liquid cleansers as these can be harsh on your baby’s skin. Sponge bathing can be done till they reach 2.5 kg.
• Avoid public places and visitors- As preemies are more prone to infections due to their immature immune systems, it is advisable to avoid taking your baby to crowded areas and limit visitors. All guests should be advised to wash their hands before coming into contact with your baby. Also, those with a cough and cold should be restricted from visiting the baby.
• Continue KMC and breastfeeding- Both of these techniques have been proven beneficial to improving the overall health of your baby by helping them gain weight and improving their immunity.
• Prepare for emergencies- Keep the number of the nearest hospital on hand in case of an emergency.

Conclusion

Caring for a premature baby can seem like an intimidating task. However, if you prepare yourself both at the hospital and at home, this can be made easier. KMC and breastfeeding are vital for the growth and development of your preemie. Continuing with these practices will be beneficial to both you and your premature baby. By following the tips and advice provided in this article, you will be able to gain more confidence in caring for your premature baby both in the hospital and at home.

References

1. Jefferies AL; Canadian Paediatric Society, Fetus and Newborn Committee. (2012). Kangaroo care for the preterm infant and family. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov