This is an automatically translated article.
The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor I Nguyen Thi My Linh - Neonatologist - Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Danang International General Hospital. Specialist Doctor I Nguyen Thi My Linh has 12 years of experience in diagnosing and treating pediatric diseases.Kangaroo method is currently being widely applied in the care of premature and low birth weight babies. Properly following the instructions of the Kangaroo method will help your baby develop healthy, reduce the risk of health problems common in premature babies.
1. What is the Kangaroo Method?
Kangaroo method is also known as Kangaroo mother care method. This is a method of caring for premature and low-birth-weight babies, which is applied according to the idea of Kangaroo mothers taking care of their babies by placing their babies in a bag in front of the mother's chest. When applying this method, the mother will put the baby in skin-to-skin contact on the chest.This method brings many benefits to premature babies such as: Help the baby sleep well, cry less; stabilize body temperature; reduce apnea; stabilize heart rate; breastfeeding is easier; better absorption of nutrients and digestion; reduce the risk of hip dislocation; pain relief; prevent neonatal infections, reduce mortality and morbidity; increase cognitive and motor abilities,...
For mothers, the Kangaroo method helps mothers to produce milk quickly, and their children can be breastfed early and for a long time; good uterine contraction, reducing the risk of postpartum hemorrhage; reduce anxiety, reduce the risk of depression; strengthen the sample-death relationship.
Phương pháp Kangaroo giúp trẻ được bú sữa mẹ sớm và kéo dài
Skin-to-skin - A miracle medicine for a newborn baby
2. How to take care of premature babies with Kangaroo method
The mother washes and sanitizes, especially carefully disinfects her hands; Prepare items: 2 - 3 tube tops for mother, 1 unbuttoned shirt for baby, 1 baby hat, 1 baby diaper, 1 newborn pad, 1 towel. It should be noted to use fabrics with good absorbency and wash them before using them for babies; Hold the baby with 2 hands, one hand holds the baby's head and back, the other hand gently lifts the baby's bottom, keeping the baby in an upright position; Set the baby's head position correctly: Lift slightly under the chin and do not let the baby's neck bend so that the baby does not obstruct the airway; Put the baby on the mother's chest, the breast close to the mother's chest, the baby's belly lies between the mother's breasts, the baby's hands are placed on both sides of the mother's chest, the baby's face is tilted to one side, the cheek rests on the mother's chest, the baby's legs are placed 2 mother's belly. The mother can observe the baby's face; Create a skin-to-skin position, without blocking the baby's nose, helping the mother always observe the baby's face. The baby lies in a comfortable position on the mother's chest, like a frog clinging to the mother; One hand holds the baby's head, the other hand takes the baby's legs out from under the Kangaroo shirt, pulls the mother's Kangaroo shirt up to the baby's ears so that the baby is close to the mother. Baby's upper body is supported in a Kangaroo shirt; Switch hands to hold the baby's head, adjust the Kangaroo shirt, pull the bottom of the shirt to cover the baby's legs. The baby's whole body is now supported by the mother's kangaroo shirt, the child's posture is comfortable; Cover the baby with a blanket to ensure the baby's body temperature.
Tư thế da kề da trong phương pháp Kangaroo
3. Monitoring premature babies when performing Kangaroo method
Monitor the whole condition, especially basic parameters such as breathing rate, heart rate, skin color, body temperature,...; During the process of performing the Kangaroo method, if the baby is found to have abnormal signs such as respiratory distress, jaundice, vomiting or problems with stool, urine, head circumference, the child's response, etc. .. need to consult a doctor immediately; Monitor the mother and family's ability to take care of their children: How to feed the baby, breastfeed, keep warm, baby's body temperature, mother's nutrition, mother's sleeping position,...4. Nutrition for children applying Kangaroo method
For premature babies, nutritional needs are very important. Some notes when taking care of nutrition for premature babies are as follows:Exclusive breastfeeding: Breast milk is the most perfect food for babies. Breast milk helps babies easily digest, reduce bloating, gas, prevent gastroesophageal reflux disease. Besides, breast milk also has a lot of energy and nutrients, helping to strengthen the baby's immune system; The suckling reflex of a premature baby may be weak. Therefore, in addition to breastfeeding, the mother can give the baby more breast milk through a dropper or spoon, according to the instructions of the medical staff; Mothers need to know how to express milk properly to increase milk production and meet the growing needs of the baby.
Mẹ có thể vắt thêm sữa để cho bé bú thêm qua đường tiêm hoặc muỗng
5. Some problems may be encountered while applying the Kangaroo method
Children have respiratory failure with manifestations of cyanosis, difficulty breathing, chest indrawing, groaning, rapid or slow breathing, frequent and prolonged pauses in breathing. The treatment is to guide the mother to put the baby in the intermediate neck position, not to bend the neck. Depending on the severity of the respiratory failure - mild, there are different measures to support the baby's breathing; Hypothermia: The ideal body temperature of a newborn is 36.5°C - 37.4°C. If the child's body temperature is < 36.5°C due to being in a cold room, the ambient temperature should be cold, so warm the child with a warm blanket, cover the child with an extra blanket, and keep the room temperature at 28 - 30°C. and avoid drafts. At the same time, the mother should monitor the baby's temperature every 15 - 30 minutes until the baby's temperature returns to normal. In case the baby's temperature does not improve, it is necessary to intervene to put the baby in a heated bed or incubator.6. Notes when taking care of premature babies with Kangaroo method
Place the baby in the correct position on the mother's chest; Exclusive breastfeeding; Properly massage the baby; Monitor the child for unusual signs. If the baby is cyanotic, choking on milk, has an unstable body temperature, etc., it is necessary to take the child immediately to a medical facility for examination and treatment; For children to periodically re-examine according to the doctor's appointment so that the baby can be monitored for the growth of length, weight, neurological, psychomotor,... Abnormalities (if any) will be detected. early and timely intervention.
Nên cho trẻ đi khám định kỳ để theo dõi sự phát triển toàn diện của bé
At Vinmec International General Hospital, we have successfully received and treated many cases of premature babies, especially those born extremely prematurely (premature babies born at 24 weeks weighing only 600 grams)
Treatment of premature babies is one of the The techniques are extremely complicated, with high risks for both the mother and the fetus. At Vinmec, preterm births are organized methodically under the coordination of many specialties: obstetrics, anesthesiology, and especially neonatology and paediatrics. This helps to reduce the risks and increase the effectiveness of treatment for health problems that premature babies may have. As a result, the technique of treating premature babies at Vinmec has achieved extremely positive effects, saving the lives of many seemingly hopeless premature births.
Recommended video:
Benefits of the postpartum skin-to-skin method
Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.
