Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) and the Kangaroo Zak - Benefits for Preemies
Benefits for preemies and low birth weight infants

From Kangaroo Mother Care Method

  • Normalized 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 physiological 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).

From The Kangaroo Zak

Skin to skin contact compliments the high-tech environment of the NICU with the personal touch of and bonding with the parents.

In preemies it may be analogous to the use of the incubator; adding to this advanced medical equipment the natural body temperature, the sensory stimulation that the mother provides with her heartbeat, breath, scent, voice…that is the closest resemblance to the womb.

The state of calm of the baby while in skin to skin, reduces stress that causes complications, particularly the neurological, and becomes a factor of cerebral protection, essential for the development and maturation of the neurological system.

For the design of the Kangaroo Zak the delicate and immature baby skin was taken into account, so it is made mostly of cotton, a natural fiber. It is hypoallergenic that combined with a small percentage of elastic fibers, provides boundaries to the baby, adjusting to his/her corporal shape and the corporal shapes of the mother, maximizing the area of contact between mother/child, without pressing or forming wrinkles/folds that can injure them or be uncomfortable.

The zipper was chosen as the closing mechanism as it is this that provides greater safety compared with the Velcro® or cords, and it allows quick and easy access to the baby in case of an emergency procedure. Also, it allows leads and probes to be placed on the bottom of the Kangaroo Zak for the comfort of the parent.

The zipper should never come into contact with the baby so they are moved to the side before placing the baby on the chest.

Other benefits of the Kangaroo Zak include:

  • Provides containment and safe boundaries
  • Maximizes area of contact between parent and baby
  • Longer holding time
  • Bonding with the parents
  • Safe, comfortable, and steady position while being held