From stretchy wraps to soft structured carriers, my favorites carriers are the ones that allow you to be skin to skin with your baby, as there are well - documented benefits
of kangaroo care for premature and full term infants.
The power of
kangaroo care for low birth weight babies has since been confirmed in multiple studies.
However, there's much more that can be done to protect your children from skin issues such
as kangaroo care method for new mom.
The brain releases a hormone called oxytocin, or the love hormone when you do
kangaroo care with your baby.
The topmost thing on your list is to keep your baby nourished and warm through
Kangaroo care method for new mom.
Narrator: Once your preemie is able to take short breaks outside the isolette, the next vital thing both Mom and Dad can do for their preemie is provide skin - to - skin contact, also
called kangaroo care.
It is important to know that each individual NICU has their own protocol
on Kangaroo Care and when it is an appropriate time to begin skin - to - skin care with your baby.
Studies have shown that moms who
practice Kangaroo Care from the start are more likely to continue exclusive breastfeeding when they bring baby home.
The direct connection with your skin
during Kangaroo Care soothes baby so much that babies» cortisol levels (stress hormone) are measurably lowered after only 20 minutes of being held Skin - to - Skin.
Today, May 15, in observance of
Kangaroo Care Awareness Day, Attachment Parenting International (API) honors all mothers and fathers who have given the gift of skin - to - skin contact to a newborn.
Disclosure: I received no compensation for this post but did receive a complimentary
Kangaroo Care shirt for the purpose of this review.
Regulating body temperature, enhances immune system, increases milk production and reducing the risk for postpartum depression are just some of the benefits
from Kangaroo Care (skin - to - skin).
I
tried kangaroo care, herbal supplements, eating oatmeal, and even drinking a beer — nothing helped.
If your baby is receiving feedings by tube, it may be a good opportunity for you to have some skin - to - skin or
Kangaroo Care time with your baby.
The VIJA Design Skin - to -
Skin Kangaroo Care T - Shirt is great and made for special situations, such as a NICU stay.
In a new analysis done at the T.H. Chan School of Public Health at Harvard, researchers found that
kangaroo care resulted in the following positive results:
KRISTEN STRATTON: What are some of the biological changes that happen between mom and baby
when Kangaroo Care is being used?
While Kangaroo Care was first promoted for its life - saving benefits to premature and at - risk infants, it has — since its discovery in 1980 in Colombia — become a mainstay in getting breastfeeding and mother - baby bonding off to a good start.
I recommend Dr Nils Bergman's
Kangaroo Care position, with the baby's head in the sniff position to ensure an open airway.
Once a baby's obvious needs are ruled out, extra holding, frequent feedings, and the skin - to - skin contact of
kangaroo care go a long way toward reducing crying.
Conde - Aguedo et al. found insufficient evidence to
recommend kangaroo care as an alternative to hospital care for low - birthweight infants (Conde - Aguedo et al., 2003).
Dads can choose from the basic cummerbund style for skin - to - skin, or a black or gray
kangaroo care t - shirt.
A valid proof of this comes from the
neonatal Kangaroo care method (K method), which requires skin to skin contact between the mother and the newborn baby.
I am CAPPA certified postpartum doula (CPD), infant massage educator, TummyTime ™ tutor, a breastfeeding peer counselor and an USIKC
certified kangaroo care professional (CKC).
In fact, the AAP recently updated its recommendations,
encouraging Kangaroo Care for every baby immediately following birth through their first three months of life, and as often as possible.
Simply put,
through Kangaroo Care, baby's body learns to self - regulate, resulting in a regular and stable heart beat and breathing pattern.
Some NICUs postpone
kangaroo care until an infant is medically stable, while others use it starting at birth.
When babies are in the NICU the best and earliest touch that parents can give is Kangaroo care [skin to skin contact between parent and baby, by securing the baby to the parent's chest to encourage physiological and psychological warmth and bonding].
This skin - to - skin contact was popularized by its use in NICU's around the country, but
now kangaroo care is being encouraged in the home.
Infants who
experience Kangaroo Care also have longer periods of sleep, better weight gain, less crying, and earlier hospital discharges.