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It’s chaos right after childbirth. Physical assessments, official weigh-ins, and a lot of other things take place to ensure the safety of the newborn and the mother. Needless to say, the first two hours after birth are critical, also because the baby needs to be eased into the world. That’s when skin-to-skin contact, a method where the baby is dried and laid directly on the mother’s bare chest after birth, comes into play. Speaking with the OnlyMyHealth team, Bengaluru-based paediatrician and vaccination specialist Dr Sayed Mujahid Husain (Dr Hifive for Instagrammers), discusses the practice in detail and lists down the benefits it has to offer to the newborn as well as the mother.
Also Read: Nutrition For Newborns: A New Parent's Guide For The First 6 To 12 Months
What Is Kangaroo Care?
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Kangaroo care, also known as skin-to-skin contact between mother and baby, was originally practised in neonatal wards in Bogota, Colombia, due to the shortage of incubators for babies with severe hospital infections.
Skin-to-skin contact refers to the practice of placing babies naked against their mother’s skin to give them a sense of warmth and security of the womb. It is said to carry several benefits for both the mother and the newborn. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) suggests that newborns who have prolonged skin-to-skin contact with their mothers are more likely to breastfeed successfully. A WHO study published in the British Medical Journal found that 90 minutes of uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact increases the chance for babies to be physically ready to breastfeed.
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Benefits Of Skin To Skin Contact For Mother And Child
Dr Husain describes kangaroo care as a form of bonding between the mother and the child. According to him, skin-to-skin contact helps the child recover faster, helps both the mother and the baby with a sense of calmness, and also assists in the breast milk production. “Irrespective of a caesarean or a natural birth, the baby should be placed on the mother’s chest, as it can provide several benefits,” he said.
In addition, the doctor explains that right after birth, the babies are deprived of the warmth of the womb and experience cold temperatures, which is why the baby might become hypothermic. This is when kangaroo care can provide warmth and comfort.
Interestingly, the mothers can also benefit from the practice, according to the doctor. “The mother feels a sense of comfort and is at ease due to the fact that the baby is delivered and close to her. It enhances the bonding between them,” said Dr Husain.
Other benefits include:
- Improved oxygen saturation
- Reduced cortisol levels
- Facilitates growth
- Reduced hospital stay
How To Practise Kangaroo Care
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Here's a step by step guide to kangaroo care:
Step 1: Follow all hygiene practices before indulging in kangaroo care. Shower and watch out for any infections or allergies on your chest.
Step 2: Wear a loose-fitting outfit or something with a zipper in front.
Step 3: Avoid using any perfume or scented lotions.
Step 4: Your baby should be placed naked on your chest (with just a diaper). Mothers need to be bare-chested too.
Step 5: Take a nurse's help to position your baby. Once your newborn is on your chest, cover him or her with a blanket. This will help keep the baby warm and in place.
Step 6: Sit back comfortably. Try not to fall asleep or have someone in the room to keep the baby safe.
The Right Time
The WHO notes, "Starting kangaroo mother care immediately after birth has the potential to save up to 1.5 lakh more lives each year, compared with the current recommendation of starting it only once a baby is stable."
A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that immediate kangaroo mother care, which is started as soon as a preterm or low birthweight baby is born, dramatically improves survival.
Also Read: #NewbornCare With Dr Hifive: List Of Common Vaccines For Babies And When To Administer Them
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How Fathers Can Indulge In The Practice?
According to Dr Husain, fathers too can indulge in kangaroo care. “If the mother is sick or admitted in the ICU for a longer period of time, the father can also provide the baby with skin-to-skin care. They can hold the baby close to them and make them feel at ease,” he said.
While historically, mothers are considered as the best providers of kangaroo care, a study published in the Journal of Clinical Nursing found that fathers who held their baby in skin-to-skin contact for the first time "showed several positive kangaroo care benefits for fathers such as reduced stress, promotion of paternal role and enhanced father-infant bond". The study co-authored with the University of South Australia looked at the experiences of fathers who had a baby in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Women's and Children's Hospital in Adelaide.
"I think after all the stress, when I have skin-to-skin I can actually calm down a little bit. I sit down and relax, I can cuddle my child and it's just a little bit of a happy place for me as well as him to calm down, not to do any work all the time, not to be stressed out. There's other things on my mind all the time but it's time to relax and turn off a little bit," one father told the team of researchers.
Another said, "She nuzzled around a bit, kind of got my smell I guess and then literally fell asleep. It was great. It was very comforting for both I guess for her and myself."
However, the study shared that some fathers found it challenging to provide kangaroo care claiming it was time-consuming.
Conclusion
Several studies have shown that skin-to-skin kangaroo care holds many benefits for the mother and the baby. It is an essential part of newborn care and therefore, must not be skipped. Talk to your healthcare provider about the do’s and don’ts involved in the practice.
