Xuanxuan (pseudonym) is a baby with a gestational age of 28+1 weeks, because she was born prematurely and weighs only 910g, she can't wait to come to this world.
After the cesarean section was delivered in the operating room, he was rushed to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) before he could take a good look at his parents.
After overcoming many difficulties such as respiration, infection, and feeding, under the 22 days of full treatment and careful care of the NICU medical staff of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University (Henan Provincial Maternal and Child Health Hospital), Xuanxuan's condition gradually stabilized, and her weight grew to 1290g, which has reached full enteral feeding.
After more than 1 month, Xuanxuan's baby can slowly eat milk under the nasal cannula.
In order to allow the baby to recover better, return to the arms of parents as soon as possible, and relieve the anxiety and separation of parents, the neonatal intensive care department carried out kangaroo nursing services for Xuanxuan's baby. After the care, Xuanxuan's mother was very moved and said: "This is the first close contact after the baby is born, I can clearly feel the baby's breathing and heartbeat, watching the baby in his arms and sleeping quietly, it is very beautiful and unforgettable." In the following days, Xuanxuan's mother carried out several kangaroo cares, and finally ushered in the day when Xuanxuan's baby was discharged from the hospital. The family also recognized the kangaroo care technique and expressed their deep gratitude to the medical staff.
"Kangaroo care" is a type of care developed in the early 80s of the 20th century mainly for premature infants, and with the improvement of medical technology and nursing knowledge in neonatal intensive care units, it is now accepted by more and more families. Let's take a closer look at what kangaroo care is and what it is about.
1. What is "kangaroo care"?
Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC), also known as "skin-to-skin care", refers to a nursing method in which the mother holds the baby in a way similar to the kangaroo mother raising the wallaby in the nursery bag, and places the baby wearing only diapers on the mother's bare chest and abdomen for skin-to-skin contact, and provides the warmth and security required by the baby by simulating the uterine environment.
2. What are the benefits of "kangaroo care"?
1. For babies: (1) promote warmth and maintain body temperature, (2) stabilize vital signs, promote cardiopulmonary function, such as regulating the heart rate and breathing of newborns, and maintain the stability of blood oxygen saturation; (3) promote sleep, reduce energy consumption, and promote nerve and physical development; (4) relieve pain; (5) promote breastfeeding; (6) shorten the length of hospitalization, reduce morbidity and mortality.
2. For mothers: (1) enhance parent-child relationship, reduce the anxiety of separation from the baby, and reduce the incidence of postpartum depression; (2) promote mothers' confidence in breastfeeding, increase lactation, and improve the rate of exclusive breastfeeding; (3) relieve postpartum pain, which is conducive to postpartum uterine recovery; (4) increase the confidence of taking care of babies and regulate the pressure caused by premature birth.
3. Which babies are suitable for "kangaroo care"?
1. Must have spontaneous breathing and no life-threatening diseases or deformities;
2. Kangaroo care is allowed after the doctor's assessment that the condition is stable.
4. What preparations need to be made for "kangaroo care"?
1. Environment: Prepare a quiet, warm, private and independent space with a room temperature of 24-26°C, avoiding vents.
2. Items: soft and comfortable sofas or recliners, bath towels, small blankets, etc., and soft music can also be prepared.
3. Baby: Between meals, change diapers and try to expose more skin to contact with the mother.
4. Mother: Be in good health, clean the body before implementation, trim nails, remove ornaments, wear a front-opening loose cotton top, and do not use irritating cosmetics such as perfume. Wash your hands under running water before touching your baby.
5. How to operate "kangaroo care".
The baby's mother takes a comfortable semi-recumbent position, lies the baby's arms and legs flexed upright on the chest, and then wraps the baby's back with blankets or clothes, so that the baby and the mother have full skin contact, pay attention to the baby's head to one side, keep the airway unobstructed, and the head has good support, avoiding hyperextension or bending. Maintain effective supervision, pay attention to keeping warm, mother can quietly accompany the baby, talk to the baby softly, touch the baby, gently hum nursery rhymes, feeding, etc.
6. Precautions for "kangaroo care".
When doing kangaroo care, you should be guided and accompanied by professional medical staff throughout the process, observe the baby's condition at any time, and stop immediately if the baby has abnormal phenomena such as skin color changes, cold skin, labored breathing or apnea.
In order to improve the quality of treatment of premature babies and alleviate the anxiety of separation between parents and babies, the Department of Neonatal Intensive Care of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University We encourage and hope that more and more families can participate in kangaroo care, let us take care of these premature babies together, and all the little angels who came to this world in advance will get new life and strength in the warm arms of their mothers!
(Some pictures come from the Internet, if there is any infringement, please contact to delete.) Submission Email [email protected])
Photo: Neonatal Intensive Care Department Ba Xuewei
Reviewer: Dong Huifang
Editor: Ji Bingbing
Editor-in-charge: Zhang Limin
Review: Hua Xiaoya