Care of Low Birth weight infant (at risk baby)
Kangaroo mother care (KMC)
KMC is method of care of low birth weight babies. This include early prolonged and continuous skin to skin contact with mother and frequent breast feeding.
KMC increase survival of low birth baby.
Component of KMC
Component of KMC are;
1. Skin to skin contact
2. Exclusive breastfeeding
1. Skin to skin contact
Early, continuous and prolonged skin to skin contact between mother and her baby.
Infant placed on her mother's chest between the breast.
2. Exclusive breastfeeding
Baby on KMC is breastfeed exclusively.
Skin to skin contact promotes lactation and thus facilitates exclusive breastfeeding.
Advantages/ Benefits of KMC
1. Benefit to baby
Prolonged skin to skin contact between mother and preterm/ low birth weight infants, provide effective thermal control. Reduce risk of hypothermia.
KMC reduces morbidity rates of neonates, apnea, oxygen requirement, risk of infection to baby.
KMC helps in early discharge of babies from NICU; reduce risk of nosocomial infection.
KMC induce sound sleep in baby.
Decreased neonatal mortality.
The babies gain more weight on KMC than on conventional care.
2. Benefit to mother
Mother more actively involved in care of her baby; more relaxed and satisfy.
KMC promotes better mother infant bonding.
Mother are less stressed during kangaroo care as compared with baby kept in incubator.
3. Benefit for family
KMC promotes early discharge baby which is beneficial for family.
KMC is economical to family.
Doesn't have to pay any charges for keeping baby warm and pay charged if baby kept in incubator/radiant warmer.
Father can also provide KMC.
4. Benefis to nation
KMC decreases neonatal and infant mortality and morbidity; reduces burden on health resources.
KMC is simple, easily applicable, cost effective and possible even at home.
KMC results in healthier baby; nation wealth.
KMC satisfy all five senses of baby
1. The baby feel warmth through skin to skin contact.
2. Listen to mother's voice and heart beat (hearing)
3. Sucks breast milk (taste)
4. Eye contact with mother (vision)
5. Smell mother's order (olfaction)
Procedure of KMC
1. Preparation of KMC
1. Counseling
2. Mother's clothing
3. Baby's clothing
2. Time of initiating
3. Kangaroo positioning
Baby should be placed between mother's breasts in an upright position.
Baby's head should be turned to on side and in a slightly extended position. This slightly extended head position keeps a airway open and allows eye to eye contact between mother and her baby.
Hips should be flexed and abducted in a "frog leg position", arm should also be flexed.
Baby's abdomen should be at level at mother epigastrium.
Mother's breathing stimulates the baby thus reducing the occurance of apnea.
Support baby's bottom with a sling/binder.
Baby upright between mother's breast's.
4. Monitoring
Babies receiving KMC monitored carefully specially during initial days.
Nursing staff should make sure baby's neck position is neither too flexed nor too extended.
Airway is clear, breathing is regular, color is pink and baby is maintained temperature.
Mother should involved in observing baby during KMC; continue monitoring at home.
5. Feeding
Holding baby near breast milk while baby is still in KMC position.
Holding baby near, stimulates milk production.
Mother can also express this milk while baby is still in KMC position.
Feed this expressed breast milk with paladai, spoon, katori or nasogastric tube depending on baby's condition.
6. Privacy
Some exposure on part of mother make her nervous and de-motivating.
Staff must respect mother's sensitivities.
Maintained privacy standard.
0 Comments