Kangaroo Care for Your Newborn

The first few moments after a baby is born can be one of the most joyous times in a parent’s life. But did you know that the process following birth plays a large part in your baby’s transition to the world? Dawn Hanna-Miller, RN, NICU, Sierra Medical Center, offers some insights on this important topic.

What is kangaroo care?

Kangaroo care is the term used to describe skin-to-skin contact between the mother and baby. The philosophy behind the process is that a baby is moved directly to the mother’s chest immediately after birth to help ease the baby’s transition into the world.

What are the benefits of kangaroo care?

The skin-to-skin contact between the mother and baby right after birth has been shown to help in four different areas of your baby’s health. These include decreased stress from the birth process, body temperature and blood sugar regulation, and less crying.

It is not only beneficial for the baby, but also for mom as benefits can include increased breastfeeding self-efficacy, lowered maternal stress levels, and higher levels of oxytocin that is related to the establishment of mother-infant bonding.

How often should parents of a newborn perform skin-to-skin?

When the baby is first born, skin-to-skin contact should last for about an hour. Once parents are home with their baby, they can do kangaroo care with their child as much as they would like.

While it is okay to wear a shirt when bonding with your baby, best results are achieved when the baby is in a diaper and the parent is bare-chested.

A note of caution – parents should never practice skin-to-skin bonding while sleeping or after taking pain medication. It’s important to be awake to prevent your baby from accidental suffocation or falling from your arms.

Learn more about The Family Birth Center and Level II NICU at Sierra Medical Center