Kangaroo Care Eases Preemie Pain
Thursday, April 24, 2008 23:36For any NICU parents out there who are dying for more cuddle time with their babies, here’s some data from a recent study that you can keep in your “back pocket”. Research shows that 28-31 week preemies experience less pain during heel sticks if moms are allowed to do kangaroo care before, during and after the procedure.
Researchers found that when moms held their baby, the baby had lower a lower score on the Premature Infant Pain Profile 90 seconds after a heel stick. When babies were left in their incubators for their heel stick, they experienced pain for much longer, and had a more difficult time recovering. Previously, professionals felt preemies in this gestational age range were too immature to benefit from being comforted.
For those who are wondering, kangaroo care is a special way to hold a baby that involves skin-to-skin contact. The baby is undressed except for their diaper and placed on their parent’s bare chest. Kangaroo care has been shown to stabilize a preemie’s heart rate and breathing pattern, and improve oxygen saturation and weight gain, leading to earlier hospital discharge.
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JuliaS says:
March 20th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
I am a huge advocate of kangaroo care. I have given birth to two preterm infants – one at 33 weeks and another at 36 weeks. Both had lung issues (the 33 weeker has some other issues as well) Once my 33 week old daughter was stable enough, we did Kangaroo Care. On her monitors you could see a marked improvement – her respiration would even out, her heart rate would normalize, her O2 levels stayed steady and she just seemed calmer and less irritable over all. I asked constantly to do kangaroo care with my 36 weeker (he was born 3.5 years later) and was unable to do so for a full week. In that time I noticed how much more irritable and fussy he was compared to my previous preemie. I knew he needed to “feel” me – felt it deep inside. (I still have a lot of issues with his nurse even 9 years later). Once they finally put him in my arms – he relaxed for the first time and reacted as if to say “Finally!”.
Once they were home, I did infant massage with them and continued that skin to skin contact with them and they both did very well at home.
I truly believe there is a biological “knowing” that our babies have with us and having that human contact and familiar touch can make a huge difference for a fragile infant.
Kristie says:
March 21st, 2009 at 10:51 am
Julia-
Thanks so much for sharing your experiences with kangaroo care. It’s an amazing bonding and comforting experience for both mom and baby!
-Kristie