Kangaroo Care Eases Preemie Pain
For 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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