It is called “kangaroo therapy”, precisely because it is inspired by the cute Australian marsupials, which keep the young in the ventral pocket. Privileging that skin-to-skin contact that becomes a therapy, well beyond the emotional closeness of the mother with the premature baby. At the conference “Covid-19 and prematurity”, the point of view of the Italian Society of Neonatology (Sin) and of Vivere onlus reaffirmed the importance of skin-to-skin contact as one of the essential moments to promote a healthy development of newborn, even in the Covid era.
In Italy, 32,000 premature babies a year, increases survival
by DAVIDE MICHIELIN
On the occasion of the world day of Kangaroo mother care (kmc), which is celebrated on May 15, a conference on Covid-19 and prematurity will be held with the aim of assessing the impact of the pandemic on family-centered care and medical staff – nursing and to tell the experience of the Sin and the non-profit organization within the neonatal intensive care units.
“Kangaroo Mother Care”, which is why immediate contact of the newborn with the skin of the parents is so important
FABIO DI TODARO
The kmc it is skin-to-skin contact between mom or dad and baby who is kept naked on the chest. It is an effective method to promote the early bond between parents and premature baby and, from the first hours of life, it contributes to the baby’s adaptation to extrauterine life, bringing numerous benefits.
Premature babies, mom’s touch saves them
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Also recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), numerous studies show that kangaroo mother care can reduce mortality and brain damage, significantly improve the long-term outcomes of very low birth weight infants, and promote bonding. of attachment between parent and child. The kmc is considered a real therapeutic intervention for the preterm infant and for its parents, who should not be considered just simple visitors, but primary caregivers and an integral part of care.
Coronavirus, the kangaroo cure that is good for the newborn is also safe
It is therefore essential to do everything to support this proximity, despite the problems caused by the coronavirus, which have created many difficulties in the organization of the departments. With this in mind, Sin and Vivere onlus, since the beginning of the pandemic, have supported the Tin and parents, with indications aimed at maintaining open 24 hours and not giving up skin to skin contact, prescribing the new rules to follow.
Among these, for example, the entry of only one parent at a time, the use of masks, correct hand hygiene, triage with temperature control and check-list on the health conditions of parents and also suggesting the execution of the nasopharyngeal swab during the most intense phases of the epidemic.
The Italian society of neonatology, through the study groups of care and quality of care, promoted a survey, carried out in February – March 2021, to which 90 neonatal intensive and sub-intensive care centers responded (about 80% of eligible centers ). From this it can be deduced that, during the covid-19 pandemic, kmc was practiced or encouraged in 67.8% of the centers, reduced in duration or frequency in 31% of the centers, suspended only in 1.1% of the centers. Despite the obvious difficulties, breastfeeding, skin-to-skin contact in the delivery room and kangaroo mother care in tin were maintained and supported in a high percentage of cases. This is also thanks to the recommendations of the Sin, which have become the reference standard at national and international level.
What you need to know when a baby arrives
by SARA PERO
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