Kangaroo Care

By Elora Yushi, Dwi Yulita, Rena Novrin, Ruth Caroline
Nursing Academy of Jakarta Hospital

Kangaroo care is a way of holding a preterm or full term infant so that there is skin to skin contact between the infant and the person holding it.

Originally babies who were eligible for kangaroo care were pre term infants, less then 1500 grams and breathing on their own.

The method of managing kangaroo care is

• The baby wears only a diaper and tied in a head u position to the mother's bare chest with a strip of cloth in a wanner that extends the baby's head and neck to revent apnea
• The tight bundling is enough for mother's breathing and chest movement to stimulate the baby's breathing. Because of the close confines being attached to his or her mother's chest, the baby is enclosed in a high carbondioxide environment which also stimulates breathing. Fathers can also use the skin to skin contact method

Beginning kangaroo care withing the first 2 hours after birth seems to be the most effective time period for succesful breastfeeding. Babies must be kept warm and dry.