K is for Kangaroo Care

K is for Kangaroo Care

Kangaroo Care is just another way of saying skin-to-skin contact.  It is called kangaroo care due to the similarities it has to a mother kangaroo carrying her baby joey in her pouch.  This doesn’t mean you are both naked.  You or your partner are simply topless and your baby will still be in a diaper.  You can then wear a robe or jacket, or wrap a blanket around your both to stay warm.  When your baby is a bit older you can even hold them skin-to-skin with a wrap. Kangaroo Care can be one of the best ways to help your preterm baby, and is great for full term babies as well!  When you hold your baby skin-to-skin you help your baby stabilize their heart rate and respiratory rate, improve their oxygen saturation rate, and help them regulate their body temperature.  Helping their body with all of these tasks helps them conserve energy and thus they will be less likely to lose too much weight. Kangaroo care can also help with brain development and immune system function. The benefits are amazing!  Most tests and procedures can be preformed while you hold your baby skin-to-skin…

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