Whilst in recent years, Kangaroo Care or Skin-to-skin care for babies, has become a very popular method of treatment particularly for pre-term babies, this form of care has been around since the late 1970’s.
Kangaroo Care was initially introduced in Bogota Colombia, in the late 1970‘s due to the alarmingly high death rate of premature infants. At that time death in premature infants was as high as 70% where babies were dying from infections, respiratory problems and sadly, lack of attention. Researchers found that babies who were held close to their mothers’ bodies for large portions of the day, thrived and survived!
Kangaroo care, or skin-to-skin care, is a technique practiced on newborn, usually pre-term infants where the infant is held, skin-to-skin, with mom and sometimes even with dad. This form of care is generally restricted to a few hours a day but if babies are medically stable, that time may be extended and some parents may even keep their babies in their arms for many hours per day.
The benefits of this practise are astounding! The physiological and psychological warmth and bonding that takes place is phenomenal. And of course, mom or dad’s stable body temperature helps to regulate baby’s temperature more smoothly than an incubator as well as allowing for readily accessible breastfeeding when mom holds baby in this way.
This is where you just cannot be without a Hugseez Baby Wrap Carrier. It is the perfect tool to use with Kangaroo Care or Skin-to-skin Contact. The Hugseez Baby Wrap Carrier, is comfortable to wear, easy to use and offers both warmth for baby and privacy for mom whilst breastfeeding.
It is highly recommended that skin-to-skin contact should be initiated immediately after birth and the benefits have been scientifically proven.
In terms of classification and proper defining for research purposes, the following aspects that categorise and define skin-to-skin contact have been proposed:
- Initiation time, (minutes, hours from birth), ideal is zero separation.
- Dose of skin-to-skin contact, (hours per day, or as percentage of day), ideal >90%.
- Duration, (measured in days or weeks from birth), ideally until infant refuses.
- Safe technique should ensure that obstructive apnoea cannot occur. Since the mother must be able to sleep to provide adequate dose. The Hugseez Baby Wrap Carrier is perfect in this instance as it is made of a soft breathable cotton lycra fabric that fits around mommy’s body very naturally. This cotton lycra fabric is also wonderfully stretchy with no belt and buckles!
The available evidence does show that early skin-to-skin contact produces better outcomes, very specifically with respect to breastfeeding, but also with regulation of physiological outcomes.
Whilst we are aware that Kangaroo Care for low birthweight and pre-term infants is a must, we have no doubt that you will agree with us that this form of skin-to-skin contact should be regarded as normal and basic for all newly born babies.
Hugseez Baby Wrap Carrier is a must for all new mommies and their babies to help make this intimate and superbly natural way of caring for your baby possible.
