Kangaroo mother care: a simple act of love with big benefits for mothers and babies

In neonatal care, one practice stands out for its simplicity, effectiveness, and profound impact on both mother and baby - kangaroo mother care. For most new parents, the natural instinct is to hold their baby close. Kangaroo mother care takes a mother’s primal urge and turns it into a powerful medical intervention, especially beneficial for premature and low birthweight infants.

What is low birthweight and what impact does it have?

Low birthweight is a significant global health issue, defined as a baby weighing less than 2,500 grams at birth. This category includes both preterm babies (born before 37 weeks of gestation) and those who are smaller than usual for their gestational age. Every year, around 20 million low birthweight babies and 13.4 million preterm babies are born worldwide, with most of these births occurring in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa where resources are limited for the treatment. In 2022, an estimated 2.3 million newborns died worldwide, with prematurity being the leading cause. Most of these deaths occur within the first week of life, and 36% of deaths occur within the first 24 hours. Without proper management, even if these children survive, they face various health issues, including infections, growth problems and developmental delays. This early adversity can lead to long-term challenges, affecting their education, behaviour and increasing the risk of non-communicable diseases later in life. Improving outcomes for these infants is crucial for their immediate survival, long-term health, as well as contribution to wider society.

What is kangaroo mother care?

Kangaroo mother care is a method of caring for newborns, placing them skin-to-skin on the mother's bare chest. It involves continuous or frequent skin-to-skin contact while the baby is wrapped and upright, positioned between the breasts. This method can be adapted to include fathers and other caregivers of the family.

Drawing inspiration from how kangaroos carry their babies, Colombian paediatrician Edgar Rey first rigorously tested this method in 1978. Faced with a shortage of incubators, high infection rates and cases of parental abandonment in hospitals, he sought an alternative solution. Since then, this technique has been used for millions of newborns across the globe.

The World Health Organization (WHO) advises that kangaroo mother care be administered to all low birthweight and premature babies immediately after stabilising them.

Benefits of kangaroo mother care

For the baby

Kangaroo mother care has shown remarkable benefits for low birthweight and premature babies, especially in low- and middle-income countries where these babies face higher risks and resources are limited. Research highlights that kangaroo mother care, initiated in healthcare settings after stabilising infants, significantly reduces newborn mortality rates—by 40% at discharge or 40 weeks postmenstrual age (the age of a child that combines the gestational age and the chronological age) and by 33% at later follow-ups. A recent review, including community-based studies, confirms these findings, showing a 32% reduction in mortality by discharge or within the first month and a 25% reduction by six months. The review also found that kangaroo mother care lowers the risk of severe infections by 15%, reduces hypothermia by 68%, and boosts exclusive breastfeeding rates by 48%. The duration of kangaroo mother care plays a crucial role in promoting infant growth, with longer periods leading to better growth outcomes.

For the mother

Kangaroo mother care offers significant physical and mental health benefits for mothers. One of the standout aspects of kangaroo mother care is how it fosters respectful maternity care, as well as helping new mothers to bond with their babies. This in turn empowers mothers to build confidence and comfort in caring for their baby, leading to greater satisfaction with their parenting.

What’s more, mothers practising kangaroo mother care have a 25% lower risk of experiencing moderate to severe depressive symptoms. This reduction in depression is likely due to the increased maternal-newborn attachment and the sense of empowerment that comes from being a central caregiver. The benefits extend beyond mental health, as skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth can help reduce the duration of the third stage of labour and lower the risk of postpartum haemorrhage.

Postpartum maternal mental health is crucial, as poor mental health can have negative effects on the mother, her baby, and her entire family. Integrating kangaroo mother care into essential postnatal care for every small newborn can significantly improve mothers' mental and physical well-being, making it a vital practice for new families worldwide.

For fathers and other family members

Kangaroo mother care can be provided by the father and other family members. This enhances the bond between the newborn and other members. It empowers other members to care for the newborn and positively impacts the family environment and structure. It has a long-term effect on paternal depression and relationship problems.

For the national health system

Kangaroo mother care is associated with a decreased hospital stay of low birthweight babies compared to traditional care. Analyses from different countries consistently show that kangaroo mother care is also more cost-effective than conventional newborn care. Implementation of kangaroo mother care can, therefore, greatly ease burdens on already stretched health systems.

How kangaroo mother care works

A joint effort by The Power of Nutrition and UNICEF

Our partnership with UNICEF in Bangladesh, with generous support from CIFF, UK Aid, PVH Corp., NORAD, and UBS Optimus Foundation, aims to improve maternal nutrition and child health across four districts. The collaborative effort puts a focus on care for low birthweight infants, promoting the use of kangaroo mother care as a key intervention.

Key programme components

• Healthcare provider training: We're equipping healthcare providers in the selected districts with the latest knowledge and skills for optimal low birthweight infant care.
• Promoting hospital deliveries: During antenatal care visits, pregnant women are encouraged to choose hospital deliveries to ensure access to essential medical resources.
• Enhanced newborn monitoring: We've provided specialised weighing scales in selected healthcare centres for accurate birth weight measurement of newborns.
• Comprehensive data tracking: All newborns' birth weight data is meticulously recorded and monitored.

Reaching mothers at home

The programme extends its reach to mothers who choose home deliveries. Trained healthcare providers visit these homes, using Salter scales to weigh newborns. For stable low birthweight infants, they demonstrate the proper techniques for kangaroo mother care. Regular follow-up visits ensure consistent monitoring of the baby's weight gain and overall health. If potential health concerns arise or weight gain is insufficient, the baby is promptly referred to the nearest hospital for further assessment.

Investing in a brighter future

This comprehensive programme offers a holistic approach to improving care for low birthweight babies in Bangladesh. By empowering mothers and healthcare providers with knowledge, resources, and support, we're working together to give both mothers and their children a healthy start in life. In Bangladesh, where home deliveries are common (more than 50%), and low birth weight is a concern, kangaroo mother care is proving to be a transformative intervention. This simple technique offers a powerful solution, saving the lives of many newborns.

Header image: UNICEF Ethiopia