Benefits of kangaroo care

[edit] For mothers

• Enhanced attachment and bonding (Tessier et al., 1998)
• Increased milk volume, doubled rates of successful breastfeeding and increased duration of breastfeeding (Mohrbacher & Stock, 2003)
• Physiologically her breasts respond to her infant’s thermal needs (Ludington-Hoe et al., 2006)
• Resilience and feelings of confidence, competence, and satisfaction regarding baby care (Tessier et al., 1998; Conde-Agudelo, Diaz-Rossello, & Belizan, 2003; Kirsten, Bergman, & Hann, 2001)

[edit] For preterm and low birth weight infants

• Normal temperature, heart rate, and respiratory rate (Ludington-Hoe et al., 2005)
• Breast milk is readily available and accessible, and strengthens the infant’s immune system
• The maternal contact causes a calming effect with decreased stress and rapid quiescence (McCain, Ludington-Hoe, Swinth, & Hadeed, 2005; Charpak et el., 2005)
• Reduced physiologic and behavioural pain responses (Ludington-Hoe, Hosseini, & Torowicz, 2005; Johnston et al., 2003)
• Increased weight gain (Charpak, Ruiz-Pelaez, & Figueroa, 2005)
• Enhanced mother-infant bonding (Dodd, 2005)
• Positive effects on infant’s cognitive development (Feldman, Eidelman, Sirota, & Weller, 2002)
• Less nosocomial infection, severe illness, or lower respiratory tract disease (Conde-Argudelo, Diaz-Rossello, & Belizan, 2003)
• Restful sleep (Ludington, Hosseini, & Torowicz, 2005);
• Earlier discharge (London et al., 2006)
• Possible reduced risk of sudden infant death (see www.infactcanada.ca)
• Normalized infant growth of premature infants (Charpak, Ruiz-Pelaez, & Figueroa, 2005)
• May be a good intervention for colic (Ellett, Bleah, & Parris, 2002)
• Possible positive effects in motor development of infants (Penalva & Schwartzman, 2006).

Description of kangaroo care

Kangaroo care seeks to provide restored closeness of the newborn with mother and/or father by placing the infant in direct skin-to-skin contact with one of them. This ensures physiological and psychological warmth and bonding. The kangaroo position provides ready access to nourishment. The mother’s body responds to the needs of the infant directly, helping regulate temperature more smoothly than an incubator, her milk adjusts to the nutritional and immunological needs of her fragile infant, and the baby sleeps more soundly.

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