Difference between revisions of "Health-and-Nutrition/C2/Kangaroo-Mother-Care/English"

Image: Skin-to-skin contact with the mother.

Image: A mother is breastfeeding a baby.

Image: A grouped image of advantages of KMC.

Image: A grouped image of steps involved in KMC.

• What is Kangaroo mother care?
• The components, importance and
• Procedure of Kangaroo mother care

Image: Kangaroo

Image: Kangaroo mother care  

• As the name suggests-
  • it involves, keeping the baby in skin to skin contact with the mother.
  • it is popularly known as KMC.

Image: A baby kept on the weighing scale with a downward arrow.

Image: A healthy full-term baby.

KMC should be given as soon as the baby is born.

• It is especially recommended for low birth weight babies-
  • whose birth weight is less than 2.5 kilograms and
  • who do not require continuous monitoring

• However, it can be used for all normal, healthy full-term babies too.  

Image: A mother is breastfeeding baby.

GIF: Clock animation.

• continuous and prolonged skin to skin contact between the mother and her baby and
• exclusive breastfeeding

Image: Let down reflex

Image: A mother is breastfeeding the baby with an upward arrow.

Image: Bonding between mother and baby

• The first component is skin to skin contact.

1. 1. it improves the letdown reflex and
   2. ultimately increases the breast milk production.
   3. Let down reflex has been explained in another tutorial of the same series.

GIF: Calendar animation.

Note that-

• Exclusive breastfeeding is mandatory for the first 6 months.

Image: Thermometer and new-born baby.

GIF: Animation of a clock to show the duration

Image: A mother is breastfeeding the baby.

• Prolonged skin to skin contact during KMC helps maintain the baby's body temperature
• And the baby feels more secure during skin to skin contact.

Apart from these-

• KMC improves the frequency and duration of breastfeeding and
• It strengthens the emotional bonding between the mother and her baby.

Image: A baby kept in the incubator

Image: A stressed mother and a baby

Image: KMC baby and stable baby

to gain weight than any other conventional methods such as-

• keeping the baby in an incubator
• which create stress for the baby and the mother as well.

• It also improves-
  • the satisfaction and confidence in the mother
  • as, she takes extra effort for her baby.

Image: Other family members (adult) carrying a baby in the KMC position.

• Father or
• Any other family member too.

Image: Daily bath

Image: Clipped fingernails

Image: Tied up hair

Image: Clean clothes

We will now discuss the points to be followed by KMC provider:

• The KMC provider should be healthy and free from illness.
• He or she should follow basic hygiene practices such as-
  • hand washing,
  • daily bath,
  • clipped fingernails,
  • tied up hair and
  • clean clothes.

• He or she should not wear any jewellery, watches and threads.
  • as these may become the barriers to maintain the hygiene and
  • It can cause injury to the baby.

Image: Kangaroo bags and binders.

• Clothes should be front open and lightweight.
• for example;
  • sari-blouse or
  • front open gown
• Note that,

The KMC provider should wear this front open gown or blouse around the KMC wrap.

GIF: Clock animation.

Image: Soft cotton fabric.

• These are useful if KMC has to be done for an extended period.
• Alternately, KMC provider can use soft clean cotton fabric.

Image: A baby passing urine during KMC.

Image: A mother cleaning the baby’s bottom.

• Whereas, the baby during KMC should-
  • wear a cap and a nappy.
• If the baby passes stool or urine during KMC then-
  • she should be cleaned and dried thoroughly.

Image: A mother is standing in an upright position.

Image: A health worker is placing the baby on mother’s chest.

Image: A health worker is turning the baby’s head towards one side.

• Firstly, the mother should stand in an upright position.
• Then,

either a health worker or any family member should do the following things, stepwise.

• By supporting the baby’s bottom and head-
  • place the baby between the mother’s bare breasts in an upright position.
  • then, turn the baby’s head to one side.

• the baby’s head is slightly bending backward.
• this position will keep the baby’s nose airways open and
• will allow the baby to make eye to eye contact with the mother.

Image: A baby is placed on the mother’s chest for KMC.

• Then bend the baby’s hips slightly outward.
• Remember -
  • to keep baby’s arms above the mother’s breast and
  • legs below the mother’s breast and
  • the baby’s abdomen on the chest of the mother.

Image: A health worker is placing a blanket on the baby. (KMC position)

• Cover the baby with a blanket if environment is cold.
• It will keep the baby and the mother warm.

• Wrap a cloth around the baby and mother’s chest and abdomen.

Image: A health worker is wrapping a cloth around the baby and the mother’s torso for KMC.

• The centre of the cloth is on a baby and
• Both ends of the cloth should pass through the armpits of the mother.
• And should cross at the back.
• After that bring the edges of the cloth in the front.
• Secure these edges of the cloth with a safe knot under the baby’s bottom.
• This is comfortable and helps support the baby.
• Also it avoids slipping of the baby.

Image: A Mother is looking at the baby.

• As the mother becomes comfortable, she should learn to wrap the cloth by herself.
• The technique of self-wrapping during KMC will be explained in another tutorial of the same series.
• It will-
  • increase the mother’s confidence and
  • make her independent.

• If mother is uncomfortable while using a cloth then she can use a stretchy band.
• It is easy and comfortable to use.

Image: A health worker is adjusting the baby’s head.

Image: The baby is looking at the mother.

• While using a stretchy band-
  • adjust the edge of the band above the baby’s ear to support his head.
• Then, tilt the baby’s head slightly-
  • to allow the baby to breathe freely and
  • To make eye to eye contact with the mother as explained earlier.

Image: Comfortably wrapped cloth with a green check mark.

• The wrapped cloth or stretchy band should not be too tight or too loose.
• It should be comfortable enough for the baby to breathe freely.

Image: A KMC provider is walking.

Image: A KMC provider is sitting.

Image: A KMC provider is doing household chores.

• Remember while carrying a baby in KMC position, mother should be able to-
  • walk
  • stand
  • sit or
  • Involve in different activities.

Image: A KMC provider is sleeping in a semi-reclined position.

• If a mother is very comfortable then-

she can even sleep during kangaroo care in a reclined or a semi-reclined position.

Image: A mother is breastfeeding the baby

• Either mother can feed the baby-
  • by simply loosening the wrapped cloth and
  • positioning the baby for breastfeeding.

Image: A mother is feeding the baby using a cup and spoon.

• she can manually express the breast milk and
  • feed the baby using a cup or spoon.

• Each day baby should gain up to 25-30 grams of weight.
• Hence, expected weight gain of a baby in a month is up to 900 to 1000 grams.
• Hence, mother or health worker should monitor the weight of the baby during routine check-ups.

Image: A mother is changing the nappy of the baby.

Image: A health worker is guiding the mother.

Image: Correct latching.

• If the baby fails to gain sufficient weight-
  • health worker should monitor the breastfeeding technique of the mother or
  • check how many times the baby urinates
  • also, guide the mother about the correct latching.
  • Correct latching has been explained in an another tutorial in the same series.

Image: A mother is supporting the baby's bottom with one hand from outside of the wrapped cloth.

Image: A mother is loosening the wrapped cloth.

Let’s learn how to remove the baby from the wrapped cloth. Firstly,

• The mother should sit in the upright position.
• Then, start untying the knot with one hand and
• support the baby’s bottom with other hand on the outside of wrapped cloth.

After that-

• Loosen the wrapped cloth with the same hand which was earlier used for untying the knot.

• Shift the hand under the cloth which was supporting the baby’s bottom and
• Use the other hand to support the baby’s bottom from outside the cloth.

• Now, lift the baby up and free her from the wrapped cloth.

After that,

• Remember to hold the baby’s head in a way-
  • where the thumb is behind one ear and
  • other fingers are around the other ear.

GIF: Too long pauses during breathing

GIF: Too fast breathing.

Image: Baby’s lips and tongue

Image: Baby’s feet.

Image: A mother is talking to a doctor or health worker.

• If the baby is not alert and active.
• If the baby is breathing too fast or taking too long pauses.
• If the baby’s lips or tongue turns blue and
• If baby’s feet are cold

Then, the mother should immediately consult the doctor and the health worker.

This brings us to the end of this tutorial on Kangaroo mother care.