In 1979, a doctor from Colombia proposed a way to save the lives of premature babies. He came up with and implemented a method that has been successfully used in many countries. Have you heard of the “kangaroo method”? Read this article carefully.
Premature babies are born for up to 37 weeks of pregnancy. Due to the short period of fetal development, such babies weigh very little. The highest rate of infant mortality and morbidity is observed in prematurely born children.
There are cases when the child weighed only 280 g. The mother carried the fetus only 21 weeks and 6 days. This case, which occurred in Miami (Florida, USA), is unique - the girl was the youngest of all premature babies born alive. Because, before time, children born are considered unviable if they were born before 23 weeks and their weight is less than 400 g.
Children with low weight are immediately placed in an incubator, where the child is in a warm atmosphere in conditions comfortable for him. He will be in the incubator until his weight reaches normal.
Kangaroo method saves life
In countries with poorly developed medical services in the conditions of overcrowded hospitals, lack of equipment and medical personnel, and poor sanitary conditions, the spread of dangerous infections is very often observed.
One very attentive doctor from the city of Bagota, in Colombia, came up with an effective method to help protect the newborn. What is its essence? Premature babies immediately come under special control of the staff, but caring for them will be common in such cases. Meanwhile, mothers undergo special training on how to take care of the baby. As soon as the baby’s condition stabilizes and he gets a little stronger, the mother turns into a living incubator for the baby. How?
The baby is tied to the mother’s body between her breasts. The baby is in contact with the body of the mother and is constantly warm. It looks like a kangaroo bag in which the development of premature babies takes place - there they feel great. A mother can feed her baby with her milk, and such communication establishes a closer relationship between mother and child.
The superiority of this method is obvious: the method is safe, does not require any equipment and additional costs. Mom can wear the most ordinary dress with a belt or a comfortable blouse. When the time comes and the child gains the minimum sufficient weight, he will be discharged home and you will only need to visit the hospital for a regular examination with a pediatrician.
In some countries, relatives are taught to be a “kangaroo dad,” “a kangaroo grandmother,” and even a “kangaroo sister” to help mom when it comes time for her to relax. In Mexico, doctors have been using this simple method since 1992. Over the decades, they are convinced that it is very effective, because it reduces not only the time that premature babies spend in the hospital, but also the number of incubators.
Premature babies - consequences and dangers
Sadly, among prematurely born children you can often find physically and mentally disabled children. They may have such pathologies as:
- decreased intelligence;
- neuropsychiatric disorders, cerebral palsy (cerebral palsy) ;
- impaired vision and hearing;
- epilepsy.
Skeletal malformations are observed - 10-12 times more often than in full-term children. With age, many of these children suffer from anxiety, nightly fears, and insecurity.
Therefore, preventive measures to prevent premature birth are very important. Among them:
- care for the health of women from early childhood;
- prevention of abortion;
- favorable conditions during pregnancy;
- monitoring by a doctor during pregnancy and childbirth.