The Kangaroo Mother method is a technique with great benefits for newborns, both premature and full-term babies. It is inspired by the marsupials that are born immature and continue their growth outside the uterus, safe from the mother, until they are ready to integrate into their environment.
It consists of placing the baby on the mother’s bare chest, favoring skin-to-skin contact between the two. She (or the father, who can also practice the method) remains seated or semi-seated, tucking the baby as long as possible.
The Kangaroo Mother method has proven to be a very effective technique in the treatment of premature babies, which is why it is increasingly recommended in neonatal intensive care units as a complement to the incubator and also at home.
It is a technique originated in Colombia, where due to the scarcity of incubators in a hospital, this very easy method to implement was chosen, which turned out to have great benefits , such as those that we tell you below.
Emotional benefits
The baby finds its natural habitat in its mother, where it finds shelter and food. Skin-to-skin contact is vital for the little one. It provides security, tranquility and favors the emotional bond of the child with his / her mother / father, which affects their development.
Neurological benefits
The baby that is in contact with its mother better regulates stress and adapts better to the environment and external stimuli, it has even been proven that the kangaroo method helps premature babies to better tolerate the pain of medical interventions.
It helps to activate their neurobiological mechanisms and improve their adaptive responses.
Improves vital signs
By being in contact with the mother’s body, the baby obtains a better regulation of body temperature . There is a kind of synchronization between the two making that if the baby needs heat, the mother’s body temperature rises, but if the baby has a fever, the mother’s temperature drops.
In addition, you get a good level of oxygen, stabilize your respiratory and heart rates, and coordinate suction-swallowing better, which helps you gain weight more quickly.
Promotes breastfeeding
The newborn has the powerful instinct to crawl at the mother’s breast, so keeping your baby close encourages him to seek the nipple to feed. This early and always available contact will establish a fundamental pillar in the beginning of breastfeeding.
Especially during the first hour of life, known as the sacred hour, when there is a state of calm conscience, of recognition between the two, practicing the kangaroo method will help to lay the foundations for a successful breastfeeding .
It’s economic
You don’t need huge resources to implement it . It is a safe, effective, natural, easy to apply and inexpensive method.
In fact, it occurred to a Colombian neonatologist to use this method in 1978 as an alternative given the shortage of incubators.
Improvements in the baby
It favors their psychomotor development, reduces apneas (temporary cessation of breathing) and improves the baby’s immune system, protecting it from infections. His clinical situation improves markedly , which helps the baby gain weight and recover faster.
In low birth weight babies, kangaroo care has been shown to reduce the risk of mortality by 30 percent.
Benefits for parents
In the case of the breastfeeding mother, having the baby at the breast causes her to suckle more frequently, thus increasing milk production, which benefits the baby.
It also helps to generate endorphins in the brain of the mother and the baby, producing a feeling of calm and well-being. Singing to premature babies while making skin-to-skin contact has also been known to reduce anxiety in mothers.
At the same time, parents feel involved in their baby’s recovery, feel more confident and stronger to cope with the period in the hospital.
Those who have practiced the Kangaroo Mother method assure that it is an intoxicating and pleasant experience , and of course the well-being of the parents is reflected in the baby.
In Babies and more | Skin-to-skin with the newborn: how it’s done and why it’s the best start in life for your baby
