The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is a critical space where premature babies , or preemies, receive specialised medical care to support their growth and development but amid the advanced medical interventions, two simple yet incredibly powerful practices have been recognised for their positive impact on preemie infants – Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) and Kangaroo Father Care (KFC). These practices involve skin-to-skin contact between parents and their preemies, promoting emotional bonding and optimal development. Magic of parents' touch: How Kangaroo Mother and Father Care are essential during a premature baby's stay in NICU (Photo by Twitter/RotundaHospital) Ahead of World Prematurity Day this November 17, we delve into the magic of a parent's touch through KMC and KFC and how they are essential for preemies' NICU stay.
We're now on WhatsApp. Click to join. Understanding Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) and Kangaroo Father Care (KFC) In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Prashant Moralwar, Consultant Pediatrician at Motherhood Hospital in Kharghar, explained, “Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) is a practice where the mother holds her preemie against her bare chest, creating skin-to-skin contact.
KMC is renowned for its numerous benefits, including regulating the baby's body temperature, promoting breastfeeding, reducing stress and pain perception and fostering a strong emotional bond between the mother and child. KMC is often introduced shortly after birth and can continue until t.