By Silvio Aladjem MD
You may or may not have ever heard of Kangaroo Care (KC). Its name was inspired by the Kangaroo, the Australian creature that stands erect on its two hind legs and has two short front legs. The female has an external abdominal pouch. Kangaroos give birth prematurely, and the newborn kangaroo climbs into the mother’s pouch where it remains until its growth and development is completed.. KC is derived from this natural behavior.
Historically, KC was first introduced in Colombia in 1978 by Dr. E. Rey, at that time Professor of Pediatrics at the University in Bogota. Dr. Rey was struggling with limited resources and high neonatal mortality, particularly in premature infants. By placing the naked newborn on the naked chest of the mother, with a blanket to cover the back of the baby, the newborn was able to keep warm. Mothers were encouraged to breastfeed at will. This simple method, later known as KC, was found to be particularly effective in premature infants, although it can be done on term infants as well..
What is the idea behind KC? First and foremost, it keeps the infant warm. In countries where incubators are not available, this simple procedure can, believe it or not, save the life of a premature infant. Preterm babies do not have the ability to maintain their temperature. Hypothermia after birth, can be fatal to such tiny babies. From Colombia to India, KC is a lifesaving procedure that does not cost a penny. It also favorably influences the heart rate and breathing of the infant, making them regular, the baby sleeps better, and the mother not only bonds with the infant, but there are studies which have shown that breast milk is produced in more generous amounts. It is a win-win natural behavior.
In our culture, fortunately, we do not have to worry about a newborn becoming hypothermic. But KC goes further than keeping the baby warm.
A recent study at Bar-Ilan University reported on a 10 year study of infants that received KC compared to a group of infants that did not. At 10 years of age, the infants who received KC .showed better cognitive skills, an improved response to stress and better neurological maturity. The mothers, on the other hand, were more sensitive and expressed an enhanced maternal behavior. Women have also shown an increased confidence in their ability to care for the newborn, thus enhancing the feeling of parenthood.
In the neonatal intensive care unit, some premature infants may be attached to electronic equipment that monitors or performs vital tasks for the newborn premie. That should not prevent from giving the infant KC. In fact, your emotional involvement with the newborn is greater and the feeling of security, as well anxiety, improves.
KC is repeated daily or several times a day, usually for 15 to 30 minutes at a time. Some advocate longer periods. It is generally advised that premie infants should be kept on KC for 6 months while term infants for 3 months, after birth.
In our high tech environment today, we tend to forget that simple approaches may have a benefit. KC stands as one example of simple things that matter. In other countries KC is the “normal” procedure after the birth of a baby, be this term or premature. Not so in the US, unfortunately. Pregnant women can change this state of affairs. Talk to your doctor and visit the hospital where you intend to deliver. Talk to the nursing staff on the obstetrical unit and find out if you can partake of KC. If not, ask why. There is no reason in the world that it should not be possible to accommodate you, if they do not do it routinely.
We talk a lot about “normal labor,” “birthing experience,” “maternal empowering,” and yet KC is practiced on a very low scale. There is nothing that would increase your bonding more than spending KC time with you newborn. Once you have your baby on your bare chest, the infant typically snuggles on the breast and falls asleep within a few minutes. It is known that breasts increase or decrease their temperature to better serve the infants change in temperature. The infant, thanks to the maternal body warmth, spares its own energies, calms down, recuperates from the stress of labor, its heart rate and respiratory rate stabilize, and as such this sense of well-being, favors and supports growth and development.
It’s simple, it’s effective, it’s fulfilling, and the baby will smile.
As the old saying goes: Try it, you’ll like it.
SILVIO ALADJEM MD, an obstetrician/gynecologist and Maternal Fetal Medicine (high risk obstetrics) specialist, is Professor Emeritus in obstetrics and gynecology at Michigan State University, College of Human Medicine, in Lansing, MI. He is the author of “10,000 babies: my life in the delivery room” now available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other book stores. Dr. Aladjem published extensively in Scientific Medical Journals and wrote several textbooks in the specialty. He can be reached through his website, www.drsilvio.com.
coolchillmom says
February 10, 2014 at 8:22 pmgreat bonding experience too.
colombian doctors rock!
I encourage everyone to look one up
Amber Edwards says
February 10, 2014 at 8:43 pmI LOVE KC! I never even asked at our hospital. I just would always do it with my babies. It was usually the only way to make them happy while we were in the hospital. I think they are like me and didn’t like the hospital. Once we got home they would be content, but during the hospital they always had to be in the KC position to be content. I didn’t mind too much except when I wanted to sleep a few hours. I continued KC at home for a few months, simply because it was a nice bonding time for me. I didn’t realize it had so many health benefits.
Michele says
February 10, 2014 at 10:46 pmI have never had children which is why possibly I have never heard of this. It makes perfect sense and why it is not practiced more in the US eludes me.
Lawna says
February 10, 2014 at 10:53 pmWhen my daughter was born she consumed too much fluid during her birth since she was born via c-section. We used this position on her and it really seemed to help.
Robin (Masshole Mommy) says
February 11, 2014 at 2:50 amWow, KC IS low scale. I have never even heard of it, but it sounds like something more parents need to know about and practice!
Terry says
February 11, 2014 at 5:33 amI have never heard of this,…. but it makes so much sense. I never thought about it when my Daughter was young. Makes me wish I could go back and do things all over again.
Emily says
February 11, 2014 at 6:03 amIf more mothers were made aware of this, I’m sure that more would practice it. It sounds quite beneficial to both the infant and the mother.
Beth says
February 11, 2014 at 7:09 amI did this with my second child (first was a c-section). I really enjoyed the immediate closeness and how easy breastfeeding was with his birth.
Nikki says
February 11, 2014 at 7:40 amI’ve heard of this. I wish I knew about it when my son was a preemie. It was really hard being away from him for those first 13 days, and I was always so scared of “breaking” him that I held him like he was made of glass.
Ashley B. says
February 11, 2014 at 8:17 amAh yes, Kangaroo Care- I’ve heard so much about it! All good things of course. I’m done having babies,but I know my expectant sister is interested in Kangaroo Care.
Rosey says
February 11, 2014 at 8:40 amHow super interesting! I have four children and have never heard of KC until now.
Amberlee Cave says
February 11, 2014 at 10:58 amI haven’t heard of this before, but I’m sure it really helps! I will have to try it if I ever decide to have more children.
Theresa says
February 11, 2014 at 11:59 amI have never heard of Kangaroo Care before, but I really like the concept of it! I really wish I would have known about it when my girls were babies. It probably would have saved a lot of stress over crying jags!
Amanda Ripsam says
February 11, 2014 at 12:22 pmI love supporting local Michigan anything be it authors or products. I am very glad you shared this with us. Being that I live in Michigan I love it.
Sarah Bailey says
February 11, 2014 at 12:28 pmI’ve not heard of this before (I don’t have kids so that could be why) it does make sense though.x
Triplezmom says
February 11, 2014 at 1:00 pmI remember reading about this in one pregnancy book, but that was it. It’s surprising it’s not more well known.
becca says
February 11, 2014 at 1:10 pminteresting for sure had never heard of this till i read your post thank you for bring this to my attention
vinma says
February 11, 2014 at 2:00 pmI have heard of Kangaroo Care- Yes, it does bring an entirely new meaning to caring for babies.
Brandy says
February 11, 2014 at 2:31 pmI know kangaroo care is popular in some NICUs and I am glad to see parents considering it for full term infants as well.
Pam says
February 11, 2014 at 2:50 pmI had never heard of KC but know my firstborn was blue when she was born and was rushed out to be warmed up. She looked like a smurf.
Jennifer Williams says
February 11, 2014 at 3:29 pmThis so interesting, I saw a new device that will help with the care of a pre mature baby, when the mom is away it actually mimics her feel and movements/heartbeats for the little one. I think what they are able to do now with technology is great.
Liz @ A Nut in a Nutshell says
February 11, 2014 at 4:32 pmI hadn’t heard the term before, but it stands to reason that it would be fabulous for the baby and so comforting. I’m all for it!
Amber Nelson says
February 11, 2014 at 5:33 pmI have definitely heard of Kangaroo care and actually practiced it when my daughter was a baby.
Veronica says
February 11, 2014 at 6:15 pmI wasn’t familiar with KC but it is seems like a great concept. Very interesting
Tough Cookie Mommy says
February 11, 2014 at 8:10 pmThis sounds like a very interesting philosophy about babies. I think I would have explored it when my boys were little.
Aisha Kristine Chong says
February 12, 2014 at 4:49 amSuch a nice thing here with KC – this is the first time I heard about it though, quite interesting. 🙂
mel says
February 12, 2014 at 9:34 amI also did this with my second kid and it made me feel so much more connected!
Ronnie says
February 12, 2014 at 10:04 amIncredibly interesting. I had read in the past about the effects of touch on babies but I wasn’t aware of KC as an implementation of these theories. Thanks for the enlightenment!
Katherine G says
February 12, 2014 at 8:17 pmI’ve seen kangaroo care be very effective. My sister used it with my nephew when he was born 3 months premature and weighed in at 1lb 3oz. I was too young to visit him at the hospital but she used it at home as well and they both seemed to love it.
Michelle G. says
February 13, 2014 at 10:20 amMy oldest son was born 10 weeks early and Kangaroo Care was highly recommended. It was a great bonding time for the two of us and definitely should be highlighted more.
Amanda Love says
February 13, 2014 at 8:06 pmI have 4 kids and I have never heard of this. Guess it goes to show that you do learn something new almost every day. Thank you for sharing with your readers.