Abstract :
Background: In preterm and LBW infants, skin-to-skin contact between the mother and her infant decreases maternal postpartum depressive symptoms and improves self-efficacy and mother-child bonding. However, evidence supporting it is lacking.
Aims and Objectives: To evaluate the impact of Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) on the maintenance of temperature and weight gain of newly born low birth weight babies.
Materials and Methods: Fifty newborn babies weighing less than 1.8 kgs were studied at a tertiary level neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)from August 2013 to August 2014. An equal number of new-borns from the same setting, matched for weight and gestational age received routine care (warmer) and acted as controls. A special bag or kangaroo pouch was designed to keep the baby in close contact with the mother to provide KMC. Weight gain and temperature maintenance were studied.
Results: Maximum number of cases and control was 1-10 days old. A maximum number of cases and controls were babies between 1.251 to 1.800 kgs i.e. 70% and 72% respectively. In the KMC group, the majority (52%)had weight gain between 100-200gm, while in the control group 52% of subjects had weight gain between 0-100 gm. Maximum number of babies in KMC group (52%) gained 15.1-20gm/day vs 0-5 gm/day in controls (42%). 70% of the KMC group while 66% of the control group was discharged between 1.25-1.5 kg weight. The pre-intervention mean temperature in neonates of the case group was 35.99 ± 0.59 ?F, while the post-intervention mean temperature in the case of group neonates was 37.01 ± 0.22 ?F. Thus, the neonates in the case group had gained temperature after the intervention (p
Conclusion: The babies in the KMC group demonstrated more weight gain and temperature.
Keyword :
Weight gain, Kangaroo mother care, Very low birth weight.