Abstract
Objective
To determine whether Kangaroo mother care (KMC) facilitates mother baby attachment in low birth weight infants.
Methods
Over 16 month period 110 neonates were randomized into kangaroo mother care group and control group using a random number table. The kangaroo group was subjected to Kangaroo mother care for at least 6 hours per day. The babies also received kangaroo care after shifting out from NICU and at home. The control group received standard care (incubator or open care system). After 3 months followup, structured maternal interview was conducted to assess attachment between mothers and their babies.
Results
Mean birth weight was 1.69 ± 0.11 Kg in KMC group compared to 1.690 ± 0.12 Kg in control group (p>0.05). Mean gestational age was 35.48 ± 1.20 week in KMC group and 35.04±1.09 week in the control group (p>0.05). KMC was initiated at a mean age of 1.72±0.45 days. The duration of KMC in first month was 10.21±1.50 hour, in the 2nd month was 10.03±1.57 hour and in the 3rd month was 8.97±1.37 hours. The duration of hospital stay was significantly shorter in the KMC group (3.56±0.57 days) compared to control group (6.80±1.30 days). The total attachment score (24.46±1.64) in the KMC group was significantly higher than that obtained in control group (18.22±1.79, p<0.001). In KMC group, mother was more often the main caretaker of the baby. Mothers were significantly more involved in care taking activities like bathing, diapering, sleeping with their babies and spent more time beyond usual care taking. They went out without their babies less often and only for unavoidable reasons. They derived greater pleasure from their babies.
Conclusion
KMC facilitates mother baby attachment in low birth weight infants.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bosque EM, Brady JP, Affonso DD et al. Physiologic measures of kangaroo versus incubator care in a tertiary level nursery. J Obstet Gynecol Neonat Nurs 1995; 24: 219–226.
Ludington SM. Energy conservation during skin to skin contact between premature infants and their mothers. Heart Lung 1990; 19: 445–451.
Anderson GC. Current knowledge about skin to skin (Kangaroo) care for preterm infants. J Perinatol 1991; 11: 216–226.
Sloan NL, Camacho CW, Rojas EP, Stern C. Kangaroo mother method: randomized controlled trial of an alternative method of care for stabilized low birth weight infants. The Lancet 1994; 344: 782–785.
Acolet D, Sleath K, Whitelaw A. Oxygenation, heart rate and temperature in very low birth weight infants during skin to skin contact with their mothers. Acta Paediatrica Scandinavica 1989; 78: 189–193.
Bauer K, Uhrig C, Sperling P et al. Body temperature and oxygen consumption during skin to skin care in stable preterm infants weighing less than 1500gms. J Pediatr 1997; 130: 240–244.
Bauer J, Sontheimer D, Fischer et al. Metabolic rate and energy balance in VLBW infants during kangaroo holding by their mothers and fathers. J Pediatr 1996; 129: 608–611.
Ramanathan K, Paul VK, Deorari AK, Taneja U, George G. Kangaroo mother care in very low birth weight infants. Indian J Pediatr 2001; 68: 1019–1023.
Hurst NM, Valentine CJ, Renfro L et al. Skin to skin holding in the neonatal intensive care unit influences maternal milk volume. J Perinatol 1997; 17: 213–217.
Legault M, Goulet C. Comparison of kangaroo and traditional methods of removing preterm infants from incubators. J Obstet Neonat Nurs 1995; 24: 501–506.
Tessier R, Cristo M, Velez S et al. Kangaroo mother care and the bonding hypothesis. Pediatrics 1998; 102: 390–391.
Feldman R, Weller A, Sirota L et al. Testing a family intervention hypothesis: the contribution of mother infant skin to skin contact (kangaroo care) to family interaction, proximity and touch. J Fam Psychol 2003; 17: 94–107.
Ballard JL, Khoury JC, Wedig K. New Ballard score, expanded to include extremely premature infants. J Pediatr 1991; 119: 417–423.
Gathwala G, Narayanan I. Influence of cesarean section on mother baby interaction. Indian Pediatr 1991; 28: 45–50.
Ruth F, Arthur I, Eidelman et al. Comparison of skin to skin (kangaroo) and traditional care: parenting outcomes and preterm infant development. Pediatrics 2002; 110: 16–26.
Ohgi S, Fukuda M, Moriuchi H et al. Comparison of kangaroo care and standard care; Behavioral organization, development, and temperament in healthy, low birth weight infants through 1 year. J Perinatol 2002; 22: 374–379.
Roller CG. Getting to know you: Mother’s experiences of Kangaroo care. J Obstet Gynaecol Neonatol Nurs 2005; 34: 210–217.
Kennell J, McGrath S. Starting the process of mother — infant bonding. Acta Paediatr 2005; 94: 775–777.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gathwala, G., Singh, B. & Balhara, B. KMC facilitates mother baby attachment in low birth weight infants. Indian J Pediatr 75, 43–47 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-008-0005-x
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-008-0005-x