The Power of Kangaroo Care

When Aryi was born, he was born 3 months early. One of the things that goes along with being born early is an inability to regulate your own temperature. These tiny little babies that are not able to regulate their temperature are put into an incubator. While Aryi was in the incubator, the only time he was able to come out is if me or Saroj (Aryi’s dad) did skin to skin (kangaroo care) while holding him. We were able to hold him like this until his temperature started to drop (that only ever happened once). I held Aryi every single day that he was in the incubator skin to skin for at least 3 hours a day (at first he was so small he fit inside my sports bra). My husband would then come in at night after work and hold him for at least an hour a day. I know that he got so much out of this. We did too. This was always the best part of my day when Aryi was in the NICU. 

So, we have already learned that Kangaroo care can regulate temperature. What else can it do. Well, for your baby it can stabilize their heart rate and breathing, support sleep and growth, reduce stress, and even lead to an earlier discharge from the hospital. Kangaroo care was pushed very hard at the hospital that Aryi was at. They really understood the benefits. They even celebrated National Kangaroo care week by having a little competition. Every nurse counted up the hours that you did Kangaroo care for the week and put your name in that many times for a chance to win a prize. My name did not get picked, but I got an honorable mention award for putting in the most hours. This isn’t something I am bragging about, it is just something I did with or without a competition. I understood how important it was. It was the only medicine I could contribute (well, that and the breast milk). I am also not putting anyone else down. I understand I was privileged to not have to take care of other kids or go to work. 

What other benefits does Kangaroo care have? Believe it or not, Kangaroo care can increase bonding and milk production in mothers. I used to pump, participate in Aryi’s care time, then hold him for 3 hours. I would participate in the next care time and then pump again. I would always pump my 2ed biggest bottle (the 1st was always the 3 am pump) of the day after our daily Kangaroo care. 

Why stop there, Kangaroo care can also increase bonding with dads too, as well as reducing a father’s stress. Of course it makes sense for the mother to receive such benefits from Kangaroo care with the breastfeeding of it all. The fact that the dad gets similar emotional benefits is just amazing to me. I know this time was super important to my husband and the best part of his day when Aryi was in the NICU. 

If you have a baby in the NICU, please do not underestimate the power of this simple medicine. Participate in Kangaroo care. It is one of the only things you can actually do for your baby in a space where everything is just happening around you.