Kangaroo Mother Care: The Power of Touch and the Benefits of Breastfeeding

Kangaroo Mother Care came from the idea of how the mammalian Kangaroo cares for her joey. Joeys are born prematurely at just around 1 gram in weight and 2 centimeters in length. Out of necessity, the mother Kangaroo nurtures her Joey and securely positions him in her pouch until he reaches at least 9 months of age. Premature babies or preemies, are born under 35 weeks of gestational age. When they are cared for with Kangaroo Mother Care, they are placed on the mother’s chest in between her breasts. Kangaroo Mother Care also makes physical contact and regular breast feeding possible. This helps your premature baby develop faster and healthier in comparison to other preemies who do not receive Kangaroo Mother Care.

What’s in a touch that helps premature babies?

Constant physical contact or simply caressing and touching your baby can release oxytocin. This is a hormone produced by his/her brain that triggers relaxation and feeling of security. More than this, regular touch also gives your baby other benefits that could hasten his/her recovery.

• Touch can help build a special bond between you and your child; needless to say, the physical connection also relates to the emotional connection that you share;
• Touching your premature baby by giving him/her gentle and soothing massages help them to gain weight faster. In fact, your baby can on a daily basis, gain weight equal to 50 percent of their original birth weight.
• There are several studies that show how touch increases your premature child’s chances of survival;
• Giving your baby regular massages or simply caressing him makes his/her metabolism better;
• Your touch gives him/her a feeling of security that could lessen their stress and eliminate or lessen his/her anxiety.
• More importantly, a touch can also hasten his/her healing and studies show how it can help increase your baby’s immune system.


Kangaroo Mother Care promotes breast feeding

In addition to constant physical contact, another important component of Kangaroo Mother Care is exclusive breast feeding of your infant. This means that you provide your baby with only breast milk. Breast milk is the best for your baby especially in the first twelve months of their life.

Baby led breastfeeding and latching whilst being kangarooed, allows your baby to regularly feed. Breast milk gives him/her all required nutrients including protein, carbohydrates, fat, minerals, digestive enzymes, hormones and vitamins. More so, breast milk is also rich of antibodies and this helps defend your baby against infections. Other benefits of breast feeding are:

• It provides your baby with enough iron that protects him from possible anemia;
• It prevents your baby from developing skin problems like eczema;
• It helps prevent your baby from suffering diarrhea;
• It helps regulate your baby’s metabolism and helps him avoid constipation;
• It prevents your baby from suffering allergies;
• It helps your baby stay away from developing high blood;
• It reduces the chances of your baby to become obese or overweight;
• But aside from these, the natural sweetener of your breast milk also helps your baby to avoid developing diabetes and tooth decay.

More so, as your baby enjoys the nutritional benefits of your breast milk, breast feeding also helps you by:

• Stabilizing Moms weight;
• Strengthening mother and child bond;
• Decreasing the risk of postpartum difficulties and problems;
• Being cost-effective and saving you time preparing infant formula or cleaning milk bottles.

Even though breast feeding is natural, additional information on how and when to breast feed your baby are equally important especially for first time moms. It is advisable to consult your health professional to ask questions or seek advice. So, by breast feeding your baby, it is not only your infant who will reap the benefits of breast feeding but you too can gain from it.

Resource Box

For more information on The Power of Touch and the Benefits of Breastfeeding, please visit http://themiracleofkangaroomothercare.com. Nyrie Roos is a resource for natural parenting practices and kangaroo mother care.
Submitted 2/1/2011