Kangaroo (skin-to-skin) care with a preterm infant before, during, and after mechanical ventilation

Using kangaroo care (KC) with unstable and/or ventilated infants remains controversial. In this article, potential advantages for ventilated infants and their mothers are discussed. The 33-week-gestation infant in this case study presented with mild respiratory distress at birth, requiring supplemental oxygen at hour 2. With no improvement by hour 18, KC was also begun, first for 1.25 hours and then, 2 hours later, for 3.5 hours. The infant was intubated at hour 45 for increasing respiratory distress, and KC resumed 24 hours later for 1 hour and 3 hours after that for an additional 3 hours. Extubation occurred at hour 90. Kangaroo care resumed 2 hours later for periods of 1.5, 1.5, and 1 hour over the next 8 hours, 2.5 hours more later that day (day 5, the last day of data collection). Thereafter, KC was done intermittently until discharge on day 9. Total KC times for pre-vent, vent, and immediate post-vent periods were 4.75, 4, and 6.5 hours, respectively. The data from this study suggest that KC may assist in, rather than retard, recovery from respiratory distress. KC may also foster maternal relaxation and minimize maternal stress.