Benefits for NICU Parents
From The Kangaroo Mother Care Method
From The Kangaroo Zak
The basic component of the KMC is the kangaroo position that has been specifically described in the scientific literature. In the Manual published by the WHO in 2003 it is described as strict upright with legs and arms outstretched and head in lateral position in the mother’s breast, to allow maximum exposure of body surface area between the baby and the mother or whoever that holds him/her. The Kangaroo Zak allows this exact position safely and comfortably for both mom and baby.
It is described that this kangaroo position (or skin to skin contact) should begin as soon as possible and must be continuous and ongoing, but to achieve this, The Kangaroo Zak was made to contain the baby (that holds him/her without compression and keeps him/her attached to the mother’s skin to regulate the baby’s temperature, as if he/she was in the incubator, but with the additional benefits for the baby of being permanently stimulated for the heartbeat, breath, voice and scent of the mother. Being in the “human incubator” enjoying all these stimuli, makes the baby sleep deeply and invest the calories to grow and not to warm, which makes, in many cases, the hospital stay less prolonged.
The mother, feeling as an important part of the care of her baby, feels a reduction of the anxiety of being a mother of a fragile child, and this in turn, has been demonstrated, has a direct effect on the breast milk production.
Once the mothers are adapted to the situation of having their babies in skin to skin contact using the Kangaroo Zak, they become partners of the healthcare professionals and they will show more aptitudes for the later care of their babies because they know them very closely since the early stages.
Other benefits include: