KANGAROO MOTHERS – THE BENEFITS 

Written By: Caroline Meyer

Kangaroo mother care or kangaroo care is also known as skin-to-skin contact. This is a technique where the new-born babies are kept skin-to-skin usually with chest against chest with a parent, usually the mom. This is a technique that is very effective with preterm babies, especially those with a low birth weight. They are likely to suffer from hypothermia and the skin to skin contact keeps the baby warm naturally as well as supporting early breastfeeding. 

Why is it called kangaroo care? 

Just like baby kangaroos are carried in a pouch and in touch with their mother’s bodies, this type of skin-to-skin contact mimics these marsupials. This type of care has been especially effective in places where the incubators are either not available or unreliable. Kangaroo care has been shown to be effective in reducing the loss of life as well as exposure to infections in the hospital for small babies. It also improves breastfeeding rates and subsequent weight gain for the babies. 

The technique starts with the baby being place on the bare chest of a parent soon after birth. There is a marked improvement in heart and breathing rates for new-borns with this technique. There is physiological and psychological bonding and warmth which helps regulate the baby’s body temperature more effectively than an incubator. Baby can also be easily breastfed by mom when carrying the baby this way.  While most first world countries use neonatal intensive care units for preterm babies, it does not mean that parents cannot also practise kangaroo care. Many neonatal intensive care units are open to kangaroo care as it has proved to be very effective in improving the outcomes for small premature babies. It is also a great bonding experience for full term babies. 

Kangaroo care started in Colombia on 1979 when the hospitals in Bogota has a shortage of incubators for babies with infections picked up in the hospitals. Hector Martinez and Edgar Rey, neonatologists, sent mothers home with their babies. They instructed them to only dress babies in a diaper and to carry them against their bare chests in an upright position and to feed them breast milk only. Mortality rates dropped from 70% to 30%. This helped with overcrowding, reduced infections and dependence on the incubators as well as loss of life for the sick babies. 

Kangaroo care is being recommended across the world to moms of not only premature infants but also full-term babies. Kangaroo care can be 1 hour to 24 hours a day and even dad’s can be a kangaroo mom for a while if they like (minus the breast feeding). The more skin-to-skin contact the better. Besides bonding, warmth and easier breast feeding, kangaroo care has many other benefits for baby. Let’s look at all the positives. 

Kangaroo helps baby adapt to the world 

When baby is first born, they are coming from your womb, it is easier for them to adapt with skin to skin contact, as your body will be the same temperature as the environment they have just left. Little ones, especially preterm babies, may have problems with thermal regulation. Kangaroo care helps them stay warm and comfortable at a temperature they are used to. 

Kangaroo care improves brain function 

Kangaroo care helps stabilize the heart rate, improve oxygenation as well as sleep for the developing baby.  This helps the brain develop better. Babies that experienced kangaroo care after being born premature were tested at 15 years old against babies placed in an incubator and were found to have better brain functioning, comparable to babies born at full term. 

Kangaroo care promotes breastfeeding and healthy weights 

Babies have a good sense of smell and will actively look for the nipple to breastfeed when they are in the kangaroo position. Moms who practise kangaroo care are more likely to exclusively breastfeed their babies and are also likely to breastfeed for 3 months longer than the average. Access to breastmilk as well as warmth helps babies with healthy weight gain. When babies are kept warm in this way, they also don’t have to burn energy in trying to regulate their own body temperature and can use this energy for growth instead. Mothers who practise kangaroo care also tend to have more milk as having baby nearby stimulates the hormones that regulate lactation.  

Kangaroo care improves health 

Babies exposed to kangaroo care generally have more regular heart rates than babies who aren’t. Their breathing is also improved. There are fewer feeding problems and allergies as well as a reduced exposure to germs. Breastfeeding also helps improve their immunity and reduces the risk of germ exposure.  

Kangaroo care makes baby calmer and happier 

Skin-to-skin contact increases oxytocin in the body which helps calm baby down. The stress hormone cortisol is decreased, making your little one less stressed. There is also reduced pain when babies are in this position as evidenced by less reaction to heel sticks used to draw blood in premature babies than babies in incubators. Babies in kangaroo care also sleep better and don’t wake up as often as babies kept in incubators. 

Kangaroo care helps dad bond too 

Babies know their Dad’s voice and skin-to-skin contact can further help dad and baby bond. Talking to baby while practising kangaroo care helps calm babies while also letting dad be involved in baby’s care. 

Kangaroo care helps reduce the risk of depression 

There have been a number of studies done showing that skin-to-skin contact can help moms reactivate their adrenal axis after birth which is though to be the cause of post-partum depression. The increase on oxytocin also reduces stress and anxiety for moms and improves the feelings of attachment to their little ones. This further reduces the risk of developing depression after birth. 

Kangaroo care is especially beneficial within the first two hours after baby is born to help them adapt. Kangaroo care is especially beneficial for premature and low birth weight babies. Kangaroo care can be continued for as long as mom and baby want it to. Kangaroo care is generally recommended for babies up to 20 weeks of age, but once babies start fussing and no longer want to be held in this position, it may be a good time to stop. A minimum of 20 minutes per kangaroo care session is recommended. If dad wants to take part, it might be a good idea to allow him to do a little kangaroo care after mom has finished with the feeding. Any amount of skin-to-skin contact is beneficial for your baby, but at least one hour per day or more is preferable.