In 2010, 27-weeks-old Jamie Ogg made international headlines when he woke up in his mother’s loving embrace, after doctors proclaimed that he was dead.
According to reports, after Jamie and his twin were delivered prematurely doctors battled to save Jamie’s life before informing Kate and David Ogg that their son was dead. The doctors placed Jamie on his mother’s bare chest so she could say goodbye.
After five minutes of cuddling, the Oggs were shocked when Jamie began moving. Despite being told that the movements were natural reflexes rather than signs of life, the Oggs continued to cradle Jamie and were even able to feed him milk from Kate’s finger.
Jamie (right) and twin Emily Ogg at two years old in 2012.
Now 5-years-old, Jamie is no different from any other 5-year-old, thanks to his parents who are now strong advocates of skin-on-skin contact for newborns, more commonly known as “Kangaroo care.”
According to the World Health Organization, “Kangaroo mother care” or “Kangaroo Care” is care of preterm infants carried skin-to-skin with the mother. Its key features are: early, continuous and prolonged skin-to-skin contact between the mother and the baby; exclusive breastfeeding (ideally); it is initiated in hospital and can be continued at home.
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How to perform Kangaroo mother care or Kangaroo care
If you’re a mom who feels strongly about practicing skin-to-skin contact with your newborn but are unsure on how to do so, then follow these tips from Kangaroomothercare.com:
1. Make sure that your newborn has fresh diapers and that his head is kept warm.
2. Wash your hands thoroughly when handling your baby. It’s best to use plain soap without any perfumes.
3. Take off your bra but keep your shirt on. Put your baby inside, against your skin.
4. Sit in a chair with cushions so you can lean back and be comfortable. Place your baby on your chest facing you with her legs curled up in the fetal position. This is best for her hips. Put her tiny hands near her face for self-soothing. She has been doing that for months in the womb already. You can hold your hands underneath and behind her.
5. Cover her and yourself. Your body will automatically warm up if your baby is cold or will cool down if your baby is hot.
Benefits of Kangaroo mother care or Kangaroo care
According to experts from babycenter.com, Kangaroo care can help your baby:
- Maintain his body warmth
- Regulate his heart and breathing rates
- Gain weight
- Spend more time in deep sleep
- Spend more time being quiet and alert and less time crying
- Have a better chance of successful breastfeeding (kangaroo care can improve a mother’s breast milk production)
They go on to say that it is beneficial for moms too as it helps assure the mother that they are able to provide intimate care that can improve their baby’s health and well-being.
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Photo taken from interaksyon.com
Kangaroo Care in the Philippines
According to a report from interaksyon.com, the World Health Organization recently gave the Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital in Sta. Cruz, Manila recognition for “its essential newborn care programs, which have been proven to reduce infant morbidity and mortality.
Dr. Howard Lawrence Sobel, WHO-WPRO regional coordinator for Reproductive, Maternity, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health, said they have replicated Fabella’s programs in seven countries in the region: Cambodia, China, Laos, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Vietnam.”
The essential newborn care programs include exclusive breastfeeding and kangaroo mother care. Fabella pioneered breastfeeding in the country by “banning all infant formula and establishing human milk banks.
The hospital also institutionalized kangaroo mother care which entails three parts: skin-to-skin contact, exclusive breastfeeding and support for both mother and child, who are provided with medical, emotional, physical and psychological support without separating them.”
The recognition comes in line with the launch of WHO’s First Embrace – a campaign geared towards saving more than 50,000 newborn lives in the region.
According to the World Health Organization, the campaign encourages “skin-to-skin contact between the mother and child shortly after birth. This simple act transfers warmth, placental blood and protective bacteria, and promotes exclusive breastfeeding.
Breastfeeding then initiates naturally at feeding cues, such as drooling, tonguing, rooting and biting the hand. Early initiation of breastfeeding is especially important because colostrum, or the first milk, contains essential nutrients, antibodies and immune cells.
Other routine steps—such as the provision of Vitamin K, eye prophylaxis, immunizations, complete examinations and weighing—should be performed after the first breastfeeding. These steps must be performed in proper sequence for maximum benefit.”
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