Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) for Full Term Babies
Ankita (Neonatal physiotherapist)Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC), as the name suggests, is derived from the way a kangaroo carries her infant against her body, in a pouch where the infant is warm, protected, and able to suckle whenever it wants.
KMC has been a popular technique for premature infants for its proven benefits. The key to this is “skin-to-skin contact”. This principle has been used in full-term infants as well, with similar benefits. A baby needs to be held by their mother for physical, emotional, and mental well-being.
Emotional intelligence begins with the wiring of the approach pathways, which comes from feeling safe in skin-to-skin contact. Eye-to-eye contact, bonding, love, and trust are the foundation of social intelligence. Together, these form the basis for all other relationships. In fact, from the first minutes of life, both emotional and social intelligence are being wired into your baby’s brain.
KMC consists of three components:
- Kangaroo position (skin to skin contact)
- Kangaroo nutrition
- Kangaroo discharge
Kangaroo position
The kangaroo position refers to the specific way of holding the baby. The baby is placed between the mother's breasts on her bare chest in an upright position.
The head should be turned to one side, in a slightly extended position. This slightly extended head position keeps the airway open and allows eye-to-eye contact between the mother and her baby. The knees are bent towards their abdomen, and the arms are beside their face.
Most importantly, the baby's heart and the mother's heart should be at the same level. Ideally, the baby can be covered with a blanket/ sheet.
Kangaroo nutrition
While doing KMC, always present an opportunity for breastfeeding. For mothers who are not breastfeeding, encourage your baby to suckle. Some babies go into deep sleep after KMC, so in between when you feel your child is in light sleep or fully awake, give them the opportunity to suckle on your breast.
Kangaroo discharge
Kangaroo discharge means how you end your KMC session. Do not transfer your baby suddenly from your body to the crib/bed. This leads to sudden insecurity in the infant. Post your KMC session, the transition to the crib/bed should be slow and should always end with the baby lying in side-lying position. The side-lying position is a self-calming position that helps in retaining the regulation of the infant.
When to start:
If both mother and infant are well, KMC should be started immediately after birth. KMC for the first few hours after delivery promotes bonding and even encourages breastfeeding.
How much KMC to be done:
Parents usually start with KMC once or twice a day for at least one hour each time, or as long as your baby likes. The longer you hold your baby, the better. Any amount of time is good, but it is best to try for at least one hour each day. Each session should last at least 1 hour. In full-term babies, KMC is suggested to be done till 3 months of age.
What not to do:
Avoid doing other things during kangaroo care, like fast rocking, talking on the phone, or watching TV. Kangaroo time is a quiet time to be enjoyed by you and your baby. Talking to your baby, singing a lullaby, or reading aloud are activities that help you and your baby bond.