Kangaroo Care in practice
following WHO Guidelines (2003)
The KC implementation
When to
start
When exactly
to start Kangaroo Care (KC) for a premature and low-birth weight
infant must be decided case by case. The condition of both baby and
mother must be taken into account.
Kangaroo Care is recommended when the baby no longer needs
intensive medical care.
In
situations with limited resources, KC is suggested for all premature
and
low birth weight (LBW) infants from about 32 weeks of gestational
age (Charpark et al, 1994; Sloan et al, 1994).
In
settings with advanced technology available, KC is suggested for LBW infants of any weight
from 28 weeks of gestational age (Gale, Franck and Lund, 1993).
Environment
Implementation
of KC must be facilitated by a supportive environment. Mutual
agreement among all the medical team is essential, because the
technique requires a large amount of support for the
parents.
KC
does not require any special facilities. An adjustable
chair or enough pillows are needed to facilitate an up-right
position for the mother.
Simple arrangement can be
made for making the mother more comfortable.
Staff
KC
does not require more staff than the traditional care. Existing
staff should receive appropriate training in KC. Specifically, they
should receive training on:
- when
to start KC
- positioning
the baby on the parents' chest
- feeding
premature and low-birth weight babies
- breastfeeding
and alternative feeding methods
- involving
and supporting the mother and the family in all the aspects of
caring for the baby
- taking
appropriate action when a problem is arising or when a mother is
concerned
- deciding
on discharge
Family
All
mothers and fathers can provide KC irrespective of age, parity,
culture, religion and education.
They
need to be informed about the advantage and the implication of KC
for their baby and for them. The mother and the father should be, in good general health and
willing to provide this type of care.
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