Doctors in Colombia are teaching mothers Kangaroo care for premature babies to enhance survival rates. The skin-to-skin method has spread globally, saving lives and helping babies thrive. Kangaroo care proves to be a cost-effective and emotional approach to nurturing premature infants.
Kangaroo Mother Care provides a cost-effective and efficient alternative to traditional incubator care for premature babies worldwide.
This approach not only saves premature babies' lives but also promotes their health, growth, and bonding between parents and infants.
Deep dives
Kangaroo Mother Care: A Simple Solution for Premature Babies
Premature babies, who are born before the expected date, often require specialized care due to their fragility. This care is usually provided by expensive incubators, which may not be readily available in many parts of the world. However, Kangaroo Mother Care offers a simpler, cheaper, and equally effective solution for premature babies. This method involves 24-hour skin-to-skin contact between the baby and the mother, mimicking the kangaroo's pouch. Implemented in over 50 countries, Kangaroo Mother Care has shown outstanding results in saving premature babies' lives and promoting their health.
Benefits and Impact of Kangaroo Mother Care
Kangaroo Mother Care not only saves babies' lives but also enhances their health and overall well-being. The method consists of three main components: Kangaroo position (skin-to-skin contact), exclusive breastfeeding, and early discharge with close monitoring. By encouraging longer breastfeeding and providing sensory stimulation, Kangaroo Mother Care helps premature babies grow and thrive. Additionally, this care approach fosters better bonding between parents and babies, empowers families, and leads to closer and more nurturing relationships.
Global Adoption and Success of Kangaroo Mother Care
The adoption of Kangaroo Mother Care has spread globally, benefiting countries like Malawi, where it has significantly reduced neonatal mortality rates. Initially perceived as an alternative due to limited resources, Kangaroo Mother Care is now recognized as a superior method for caring for premature babies. Despite initial resistance, this approach is becoming standard practice and is integrated into health policies and medical education in various countries, reflecting its effectiveness in saving lives and improving outcomes for preterm infants.
Premature babies often need a lot of expensive specialised care - but that isn’t always available. So, doctors in Colombia are teaching mothers to look after their babies in a similar way that kangaroos look after their own young.
It’s called "kangaroo mother care" and instead of being in an incubator, babies are wrapped tightly against their mother’s skin.
The technique was developed in Bogota in the late 1970s as a response to overcrowding in hospital maternity units. There weren't enough incubators and around 70% of premature babies didn’t survive.
Doctors started using this simple skin-to-skin method. They found it wasn't only saving babies but was also helping them to thrive. Now, kangaroo care has spread around the world.
Presenter: Myra Anubi
Reporter: Zoe Gelber
Series producer: Tom Colls
Sound mix: Hal Haines
Editor: Richard Vadon
Email: peoplefixingtheworld@bbc.co.uk
Image: A baby in the kangaroo position
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