1. Is it necessary a special infrastructure to implement the KMC at the NICU?
If we want to encourage the mothers in the Unit to hold their babies, we must give them comfortable chairs according to the frequency and intensity we want the skin to skin contact so that we need to have chairs next to the incubator or in a room in the Unit, to hold the babies. The necessary element will be the Kangaroo Zak to give support and boundaries to the baby during the skin to skin contact. And of course it requires a change of attitude of the health staff because it should get used to the presence of the parents in the Unit, and see them as the babies caregivers. All changes bring together some difficulty, but the conviction we are working for the babies's benefit and implementing these tools step by step, one day they could not imagine the Unit without the presence of the parents and the babies very happy on their chest.
2. Do I need additional staff to encourage the practice of skin to skin in my Unit?
At first it seem to be a lot of work to teach mothers and watch them closely to ensure the stability of the baby, but in practise it become a routine in the Unit, and mothers understand the importance of their role, they become the better caretakers of their babies and even the emotional support of the mothers with less experience.
3. Does KMC replace the cares of the NICU?
No. The KMC complements and humanizes the care of the new born bonding the family to this critical period of the fragile baby. In the places with limited resources, the KMC could be the only opportunity of survival of these babies, but where technological resources exist, it is used as a complement of the neonatal cares with excellent benefits for the baby, the family, the institution and the overall health system
4. How long must I hold my baby in the NICU?
The most comfortable and pleasant place for a baby is the kangaroo position. For premature babies, as soon as he/she is stable and the medical personnel recommends it. It is better to hold the baby as long and as soon as its possible.
5. For babies weighing less than 1000 grams, how do I keep the head upright during Kangaroo?
When the person holding the baby adopts a semiseat position, the weight of the baby will keep him/her in a suitable position and the hipotonia won't be a problem. Of course, he/she must keep an eye on the baby very often and a mirror can be very helpful.
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