Better Than An Incubator: Saving Babies Lives
As a new mom, is there anything sweeter than nuzzling with your precious bundle of joy? Kangaroo Care is just that, holding your baby close, skin-to-skin. The results– inspiring!
This simple act can regulate your baby’s body temperature, stabilize his oxygen, breathing and heart rates, promotes breastfeeding and bonding, and reduce stress!
Here’s a news broadcasting of how skin-to-skin contact alone brought life to a preemie born at 27 weeks. According to Dr. Nils Berman, kangaroo mother care works much more efficiently than an incubator at stabilizing an infant. Kangaroo mother care was originally designed for premature babies in third world countries where incubators were too few. Since then, in has proven effective in preemies and full term babies and is slowly being used more and more throughout the world.
Kangaroo Care vs. Kangaroo Mother Care
The benefits of kangaroo care’s simple skin-on-skin contact, are enhanced with just a few added steps. Since kangaroo mother care was designed for preemies, these added steps have made it possible to save babies lives.
1. Exclusive breastfeeding
2. Keeping mother and baby together during all times
3. Mother keeps baby in an upright or semi upright position
Why haven’t I heard of this before?
In a money driven society, natural and free-of-cost options are rarely brought to our attention. I’m sure your doctor wants what is best for you. Unfortunately, unnecessary pitocin shots, epidurals, c-sections and other medical interventions continue to be routinely performed. Check out these statistics!
I discovered Kangaroo Care through my pediatrician, who highly recommends breastfeeding and other natural parenting choices. He showed me a video (Sorry, it’s no longer available to watch online!) that persuaded me to deliver drug free and practice skin-to-skin contact with my first-born. I was skeptical when first introduced to this method, but after practicing Kangaroo Mother Care I am a true believer. I loved having my healthy full-term baby benefit from this fully instinctual way, rather than being passed around nurse to nurse for different tests. It was more than amazing to see my new-born baby, fresh out of the womb, crawl up to get her first meal!
A mother’s body is fascinating. Growing and delivering a child is an absolutely amazing experience! If we allow ourselves, we can continue to connect with our children in ways that can benefit them for life. The greatest learn the benefits of skin-to-skin contact is to share it with your baby.
Other Helpful articles
Hey, Dad! you can practice kangaroo care with baby too! Here’s an uplifting story of a dad who is committed to providing all he can for his twin preemie’s!
Here’s another article of a woman who used kangaroo care when her baby was 4 days old. Fresh from the incubator, this baby, born at 27 weeks, thrived in his mother’s arms.
And another article, recently published, of a Haiti hospital supporting women to use this method. The neonatal chief of the hospital, Dr. Severe, says, “What is great about kangaroo care is the simplicity of the method. After 10 days, we already see a much rapider turnover – babies gain weight much more quickly because the baby learns how to position itself to feed. Being close to the maternal heartbeat facilitates the baby’s development.”
I want to know what YOU think!
Have you heard of or used Kangaroo Care in the past?