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The Effect of Kangaroo Care on Breastfeeding and Development in Preterm Neonates

Sibel Kucukoglu1, Fatma Yılmaz Kurt2, Aynur Aytekin Ozdemir3

  • 1Selçuk University, Nursing Faculty, Department of Children Health and Disease Nursing, Turkey.

Journal of Pediatric Nursing
|March 22, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Kangaroo care (KC) significantly improved breastfeeding rates and breast milk intake in preterm infants. This method also led to higher body weight in neonates, suggesting KC

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal care
  • Pediatric nutrition
  • Maternal-infant bonding

Background:

  • Preterm neonates often face challenges with feeding and development.
  • Kangaroo care (KC) is a method of care that involves skin-to-skin contact between mother and infant.
  • The impact of KC on breastfeeding and development in preterm infants requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of kangaroo care (KC) on breastfeeding rates.
  • To assess the impact of KC on the physical development of preterm neonates.
  • To evaluate these effects in the first six months of life.

Main Methods:

  • A quasi-experimental, pretest-posttest control group design was employed.
  • The study included 60 preterm neonates in NICU, divided into an experimental KC group (n=30) and a control group (n=30).
  • Data on feeding patterns and physical development were collected at multiple time points up to six months postpartum.

Main Results:

  • The KC group exhibited significantly higher mean body weight at 3 and 6 months postpartum (p < .05).
  • Breast milk intake and breastfeeding rates were significantly higher in the KC group across all assessment periods (p < .05).
  • KC demonstrated a positive correlation with sustained breastfeeding and improved infant weight gain.

Conclusions:

  • Kangaroo care promotes extended breastfeeding duration and increased breast milk intake in preterm neonates.
  • KC positively influences the physical development, specifically body weight, of preterm infants.
  • Mothers should be trained in KC, and healthcare professionals should encourage its practice in the postnatal period.
Abstract

Keywords:
Breast milkBreastfeedingKangaroo careNursingPreterm neonate

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