Deep down, we all know that it is scary to be a new parent. All of a sudden, new parents are pare resented with the challenges of newborn care, and a precious, fragile life becomes his or her full responsibility.
There are various systems of newborn care, with swaddling and Kangaroo Mother Care being two of the most commonly practiced systems in the world today. This article gives new parents some tips on how to care for their infants with the two methods mentioned.
Swaddling
Swaddling is an age-old practice of wrapping babies snugly in swaddling cloth or blankets. In a modern context, cotton muslin wraps or winged baby swaddles are used. Modern medical studies indicate that babies sleep better when swaddled as it prevents them being awakened by a startle reflex. The risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is also reduced when babies sleep on their back (instead of their tummies) in swaddled cloths.
However, there are associated risks involved in swaddling an infant. The baby might overheat if blankets that are too thick create excessive insulation around the baby. Loose and shoddy swaddling techniques also make swaddling ineffective, and if the baby is wrapped too tightly, its movements might be severely restricted. Therefore, parents who choose to use this technique have to make sure that they know how to swaddle their child properly, and use the best swaddling methods.
Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC)
What is Kangaroo Mother Care? KMC is a care method that is simple yet effective to care for preterm babies. An infant is held skin to skin with an adult to help keep the premature or underweight baby warm as it is unable to generate enough heat on its own. Exclusive breastfeeding and the treatment of mother and baby as a whole is also practiced to ensure a vulnerable newborn undergoes proper growth and development.
Typically, premature babies are placed in hospital incubators surrounded by potential diseases. This makes the infants very susceptible to viruses and bacteria. It also decreases bonding and neurological development of the baby, inhibits breastfeeding as determined by the infant, and increases the child's risks of infection.
However, if the mother can provide incubation through skin to skin contact while the infant is wrapped to the mother's chest, the mother and baby can leave the hospital earlier to recover at home. The mother should then provide total breastfeeding for the baby as part of KMC. Breastfeeding achieves the dual purposes of bonding and nourishment, allowing the baby to thrive.
As you can see, swaddling is a way of carrying the baby, while KMC is a holistic care system for both the infant and the mother. It is a good choice for parents who prefer natural care, and who feel that swaddling does not work for them.
There are various systems of newborn care, with swaddling and Kangaroo Mother Care being two of the most commonly practiced systems in the world today. This article gives new parents some tips on how to care for their infants with the two methods mentioned.
Swaddling
Swaddling is an age-old practice of wrapping babies snugly in swaddling cloth or blankets. In a modern context, cotton muslin wraps or winged baby swaddles are used. Modern medical studies indicate that babies sleep better when swaddled as it prevents them being awakened by a startle reflex. The risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is also reduced when babies sleep on their back (instead of their tummies) in swaddled cloths.
However, there are associated risks involved in swaddling an infant. The baby might overheat if blankets that are too thick create excessive insulation around the baby. Loose and shoddy swaddling techniques also make swaddling ineffective, and if the baby is wrapped too tightly, its movements might be severely restricted. Therefore, parents who choose to use this technique have to make sure that they know how to swaddle their child properly, and use the best swaddling methods.
Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC)
What is Kangaroo Mother Care? KMC is a care method that is simple yet effective to care for preterm babies. An infant is held skin to skin with an adult to help keep the premature or underweight baby warm as it is unable to generate enough heat on its own. Exclusive breastfeeding and the treatment of mother and baby as a whole is also practiced to ensure a vulnerable newborn undergoes proper growth and development.
Typically, premature babies are placed in hospital incubators surrounded by potential diseases. This makes the infants very susceptible to viruses and bacteria. It also decreases bonding and neurological development of the baby, inhibits breastfeeding as determined by the infant, and increases the child's risks of infection.
However, if the mother can provide incubation through skin to skin contact while the infant is wrapped to the mother's chest, the mother and baby can leave the hospital earlier to recover at home. The mother should then provide total breastfeeding for the baby as part of KMC. Breastfeeding achieves the dual purposes of bonding and nourishment, allowing the baby to thrive.
As you can see, swaddling is a way of carrying the baby, while KMC is a holistic care system for both the infant and the mother. It is a good choice for parents who prefer natural care, and who feel that swaddling does not work for them.
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