Question: What exactly is Kangaroo Care?

Answer: Kangaroo Care (KC) also called Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) is a term used to describe a baby being held skin-to-skin with his/her mother for prolonged periods of time. It typically refers to a type of care used in a newborn intensive care unit (NICU)—a special nursery for babies that are born preterm or have serious health problems at birth. The term is taken from the name of a common marsupial, the Kangaroo.

Compared to human babies, baby marsupials are born shortly after conception. They then climb up their mother’s body to a special pouch, the marsupium, where they attach themselves to the mother’s nipple. It is from that nipple that they receive their nourishment. In contrast, humans are pregnant for a longer period of time. Human babies grow and develop inside a uterus (womb) where a placenta (afterbirth) provides nourishment.

In 1978 Dr. Edgar Rey Sanabria,  Professor of Neonatology at a University in Columbia, is credited with the initial development of “Kangaroo Care” for newborn intensive care units (NICU). The NICU that he was in charge of was running out of space, staff, and beds. In order to deal with this crisis he had mothers of preterm infants hold their babies skin-to-skin, with only a diaper and a hat on, for prolonged (at least 3 hours) periods of time. What happened as a result of this intensive care was amazing.

He, and now many other researchers, were thrilled to report that they found that mothers and babies thrived as a result of KC. Mothers report that they get to know their babies better, have a greater milk supply, have feelings of confidence and competence in their ability to care for their babies, and feel better prepared to take their babies home.

The babies also benefit. They are able to maintain a normal temperature, heart rate, and breathing rate while being held skin-to-skin. These benefits can last up to three hours after KC stops. Babies are calmer, along with their mothers. The babies also seem to have less pain and gain weight quicker.

Hospitals benefit from KC too—babies are discharged sooner than those who do not have the benefit of KC. The parents are involved with the care which gives staff more opportunities to teach parents about the care of their infant.

All mothers want to touch their infants. It is through the sense of touch that we all get to know each other. It is even more profound at the time of birth. By providing time for skin-to-skin time, everyone wins.