A Guiding Hand for Families in Special Care Nurseries - Digital - Book - Page 52
Special Care Nursery (SCN)
kangaroo position. In addition,
Kangaroo Care has been found
to promote parent/baby bonding,
breastfeeding and an early
discharge for premature babies. If
you don’t want to use this Kangaroo
Care method, that is ok as well. No
one should pressure you if you are
not ready.
• Earlier hospital discharge
When?
• Having confidence to care for
their baby
Policies vary from hospital to
hospital but most have a policy
which allows Kangaroo Care for
babies who are stable, including
those less than 1500 grams that
are breathing on their own. Some
hospitals also allow babies on
oxygen or CPAP to be held in a
Kangaroo cuddle.
• Gaining confidence that baby is
well cared for
Benefits
There are also benefits to the
parents which include:
• Feeling close to baby (Kangaroo
Care plays an important role in
helping parents to bond with
their baby, even though baby is
not home and contact time may
be limited)
“When I held my
baby close I had a brief
moment of stillness – my
baby and I calmed and
I felt truly connecte
for the first time.”
There are a number of potential
benefits of Kangaroo Care such as:
SUE, MOTHER OF
33 WEEKER
• More stable heart rate (no
bradycardia)
• More regular breathing (a 75%
decrease in apnoeic episodes)
• Improved oxygen saturation levels
• Longer periods of sleep
• More rapid weight gain
• More rapid brain development
• Decreased crying / longer periods
of alertness
• More successful breastfeeding
experiences
Life’s Little Treasures Foundation | Supporting Families of Premature & Sick Babies
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