Care which takes much of its inspiration from the natural world and the parenting techniques of other mammals is being implemented by the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at St Mary’s Hospital, Newport.
Kangaroo care is a technique which involves caring for babies in a way that supports their development. The baby is placed on the parent’s chest, allowing the parents to have skin to skin contact with their child and helping parents bond with their babies by removing the barriers of an incubator and increasing breastfeeding success; all of which benefit the baby’s growth and development.
Susan Grevatt, Staff Nurse on the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, said:
“Research has shown that skin to skin care helps babies to adjust to life outside the womb; they have better temperature control and are calmer and less likely to cry for extended periods; reducing energy expenditure. Babies who enjoyed lots of skin to skin with their mother or father were often able to go home earlier and more likely to be breastfeeding after leaving hospital.”
To support the Neonatal Unit’s efforts and to coincide with International Kangaroo Care Awareness Day in May, the special care baby charity ‘Best Beginnings’ and ‘Bliss’ supplied the unit with Kangaroo care sticker packs to encourage nurses and families to work together to ensure babies receive more skin to skin contact. The guide, record sheet and stickers are being used to raise awareness and increase the amount of Kangaroo care given and encourage parents to participate in the care of their premature or sick baby as much as possible.
Baby Ariya was born on 15th June this year weighing 1.28kg and required assistance breathing due to her prematurity. Ariya was born at 28 weeks gestation, 12 weeks early, to Syranne and Tommy Keane from East Cowes and is a little sister to two boys aged 7 and 3. She first received Kangaroo care with mum when she was 2 days old and NICU staff have been using the new Kangaroo care record chart and stickers to encourage and promote the use of Kangaroo care in Ariya’s care and development/recovery. Ariya’s mum, Syranne, said: “Kangaroo care has allowed me to bond with Ariya, especially as she is so fragile. It has increased my confidence in handling her and has made me feel like I am able to be part of my baby’s care and helped me to produce and express breast milk for Ariya.”
In addition to the Kangaroo care sticker packs, the Neonatal Unit has purchased a number of ‘Kangawrap’ slings through Trade4Life with donations from local people and businesses who have kindly given their time and money to the Barely Born charity.
