Kangaroo Mother Care Essay
Kangaroo mother care is the least invasive, more beneficial procedure that can be done in a neonatal intensive care unit. It is comprised of prolonged and early skin-to-skin contact, exclusive breastfeeding, and support for the parents as well as proper follow-up (Mörelius, 2015). Studies show that kangaroo mother care helps parents learn about the new infant, be involved in the care of the baby, and provides psychological stability (Mörelius, 2015). The physical effects on the baby have significance as well. One study’s results found that kangaroo mother care resulted in a mean age of average daily weight gain was significantly higher and the regaining birth weight was significantly less than the infants that did not receive kangaroo mother care (Samra, 2013). Kangaroo Mother Care is beneficial for the mother, but this intervention can have a significant effect on the neonate’s pain level and reduces the amount of crying associated with pain. A study conducted Kostandy (2008) determined kangaroo care mechanism of reducing pain may come
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from tactile stimulation releases endorphins, blocks nociceptive transmission, oxytocin secretion, decreasing amount of noxious stimuli by allowing infants to fall into deep sleep, and the maternal presence and odor providing a degree of analgesia (Kostandy, 2008). This scholarly paper will explore research conducted on the topic kangaroo mother care reducing the amount of pain experienced by the neonate.
Article Review
A recent pilot study done by Cong, Ludington-Hoe, and Walsh (2011) conducted research to attempt to find a relationship between kangaroo care and the reduction of behavioral pain response in preterm neonates. The researchers wanted to find a relationship between the two factors to avoid using pharmacological methods since they have no effect of the less developed nervous system of the neonate. According to research, 40-90% of infants receive no preventative or effective treatment to reduce pain during a procedure (Cong, 2011). Kangaroo care works through multisensory input in the brain that causes competition with the pain signals and activation of neurotransmitter signaling that results in a pain response. The study was a randomized crossover trail using gestational aged neonates of 30-32 weeks’ and both male and female neonates were used out of the sample population of 28 total subjects. The procedure in which the pain level was determined afterward was a routine heel stick. Two separate studies were conducted; one in which the mother performed kangaroo care for 30 minutes before the heel stick as well as during and another one where the mother performed kangaroo care for 80 minutes prior to the procedure as well as during the heel stick. The control was using the same neonates, but instead of kangaroo care, the neonates remained in the incubator before, during, and after the heel stick. The level of pain response was measured through behavioral observations using the Premature Infant Pain Profile (PIPP) scale. This multidimensional assessment uses behavioral changes- brow bulge, eye squeeze, and nasolabial furor- as well as psychological changes, and contextual such as behavioral state and gestational age. Salivary and cortisol levels were also collected prior to the heel stick as well as 20 minutes after the procedure. Co-variates such as other procedures previously performed were also factored into the determination of the effect Kangaroo care had on the level of pain experienced by the infant. The results of the study were statistically significant for kangaroo care done 30 minutes prior, during, and after the heel stick. The PIPP scores were lower during the recovery time, lower cortisol levels in the saliva both during the heel stick and during recovery. The 80 minutes of kangaroo care before and after the heel stick showed no differences in the PIPP scores or salivary cortisol levels. The researchers determined that 30 minutes of kangaroo mother care before, during, and after reduced the pain response in preterm infants (Cong, 2011).
Analysis and Significance The results of this research study have major significance to the parent-child nursing practice, particularly in the NICU. Cong states that repeated exposure to pain such as in settings like the NICU can have long-term effects on the infants, such as permanent altered responses to pain due to alterations in pain pathways (Cong, 2011). The nurse’s role is to provide care as minimally invasive as possible. Therefore, if a nurse can prevent inserting an IV to administer analgesics or not provide any pain relieve at all to minimize pain, kangaroo care is most ideal intervention the nurse can implement.
The use of kangaroo care instead of pharmacologic methods reduces the risk to the infant.
Another benefit is the improvement of bonding between mother and baby. In fact, the mother does not necessarily have to be the provider of kangaroo care; the father can also provide it, in turn improving the bond between father and baby. This information can provide safe patient care to the baby because it supports the theory of the most beneficial intervention with the least amount of negative side effects. During my clinical rotation in the NICU, I helped implement kangaroo care with a 24 week old baby and her mother. Kangaroo care not only decreased crying time when the infant got a hell stick, but the pulse and pulse ox vital signs significantly improved. This information can be used in the NICU but it can be implemented outside of the NICU such as at infant’s home setting or in primary care provider offices during routine
vaccinations.
Conclusion Kangaroo mother care has numerous benefits to both mother and baby and should be more widely implemented in the acute care setting when procedures involving pain is involved. Skin-to-skin contact is the least invasive, most beneficial to decrease infant pain bother physiologically and behaviorally.
from tactile stimulation releases endorphins, blocks nociceptive transmission, oxytocin secretion, decreasing amount of noxious stimuli by allowing infants to fall into deep sleep, and the maternal presence and odor providing a degree of analgesia (Kostandy, 2008). This scholarly paper will explore research conducted on the topic kangaroo mother care reducing the amount of pain experienced by the neonate.
Article Review
A recent pilot study done by Cong, Ludington-Hoe, and Walsh (2011) conducted research to attempt to find a relationship between kangaroo care and the reduction of behavioral pain response in preterm neonates. The researchers wanted to find a relationship between the two factors to avoid using pharmacological methods since they have no effect of the less developed nervous system of the neonate. According to research, 40-90% of infants receive no preventative or effective treatment to reduce pain during a procedure (Cong, 2011). Kangaroo care works through multisensory input in the brain that causes competition with the pain signals and activation of neurotransmitter signaling that results in a pain response. The study was a randomized crossover trail using gestational aged neonates of 30-32 weeks’ and both male and female neonates were used out of the sample population of 28 total subjects. The procedure in which the pain level was determined afterward was a routine heel stick. Two separate studies were conducted; one in which the mother performed kangaroo care for 30 minutes before the heel stick as well as during and another one where the mother performed kangaroo care for 80 minutes prior to the procedure as well as during the heel stick. The control was using the same neonates, but instead of kangaroo care, the neonates remained in the incubator before, during, and after the heel stick. The level of pain response was measured through behavioral observations using the Premature Infant Pain Profile (PIPP) scale. This multidimensional assessment uses behavioral changes- brow bulge, eye squeeze, and nasolabial furor- as well as psychological changes, and contextual such as behavioral state and gestational age. Salivary and cortisol levels were also collected prior to the heel stick as well as 20 minutes after the procedure. Co-variates such as other procedures previously performed were also factored into the determination of the effect Kangaroo care had on the level of pain experienced by the infant. The results of the study were statistically significant for kangaroo care done 30 minutes prior, during, and after the heel stick. The PIPP scores were lower during the recovery time, lower cortisol levels in the saliva both during the heel stick and during recovery. The 80 minutes of kangaroo care before and after the heel stick showed no differences in the PIPP scores or salivary cortisol levels. The researchers determined that 30 minutes of kangaroo mother care before, during, and after reduced the pain response in preterm infants (Cong, 2011).
Analysis and Significance The results of this research study have major significance to the parent-child nursing practice, particularly in the NICU. Cong states that repeated exposure to pain such as in settings like the NICU can have long-term effects on the infants, such as permanent altered responses to pain due to alterations in pain pathways (Cong, 2011). The nurse’s role is to provide care as minimally invasive as possible. Therefore, if a nurse can prevent inserting an IV to administer analgesics or not provide any pain relieve at all to minimize pain, kangaroo care is most ideal intervention the nurse can implement.
The use of kangaroo care instead of pharmacologic methods reduces the risk to the infant.
Another benefit is the improvement of bonding between mother and baby. In fact, the mother does not necessarily have to be the provider of kangaroo care; the father can also provide it, in turn improving the bond between father and baby. This information can provide safe patient care to the baby because it supports the theory of the most beneficial intervention with the least amount of negative side effects. During my clinical rotation in the NICU, I helped implement kangaroo care with a 24 week old baby and her mother. Kangaroo care not only decreased crying time when the infant got a hell stick, but the pulse and pulse ox vital signs significantly improved. This information can be used in the NICU but it can be implemented outside of the NICU such as at infant’s home setting or in primary care provider offices during routine
vaccinations.
Conclusion Kangaroo mother care has numerous benefits to both mother and baby and should be more widely implemented in the acute care setting when procedures involving pain is involved. Skin-to-skin contact is the least invasive, most beneficial to decrease infant pain bother physiologically and behaviorally.