Issue link: http://cp.revolio.com/i/329829
22 nature's incuBator Although it might seem small, one of the biggest benefits KC offers preemies is a calm, warm place to rest. And when life's goal is simply to remain healthy and grow, that's huge, Hendrix says. "Their breathing becomes much more regular. They have much less apnea (halted breathing) and bradycardia (overly low heart rate)," she says, citing two common problems with preemies. Also, with no fat, preemies can't regulate their temperature, which, when on her chest, their mothers do for them, automatically adjusting the babies' temperature in a way no incubator can do. With Riad, Adrovic would hold him as many hours a day as possible, especially when he appeared stressed. "I would put him on me. His breathing changed. You could see how calm he would get," she says, adding that she'd touch him gently and speak quietly. "I tell him he was going to be good," she says, pausing to fight back tears. "That he was going to grow into big baby," she says. By keeping them stable and relaxed, KC allows babies to sleep deeply and heal and grow, says Hendrix, whose research revealed that NICU babies without KC rarely achieve restful sleep (which averages 22 hours in utero), and tend to have sleep issues for life. KC babies do grow faster, leading to earlier hospital release, studies show. motHer's medicine When placing babies on their mother's skin, they will also naturally root for and latch onto the breast, often nursing within two hours of Kangaroo Care, research shows. Having the antibodies of their mother's milk is even more crucial for preemies, who are more prone to infection, and a preemie's mother's milk is also higher in protein, sodium, calcium and calories than term mothers' milk, Hendrix says. Studies also show KC increases milk supply, something Adrovic noticed. "When I kangarooed, I could feel more milk coming to me," she says. "Soon he was nursing really nicely." KC also doubles rates of successful breastfeeding and increases nursing duration, Hendrix says. Both baby Owen and baby Riad have grown steadily since their NICU releases, with Riad nearing 20 pounds at 10 months and Owen closing in on 7 pounds at 9 weeks. Both boys were receiving thumbs up from all of their doctors, including pulmonologists, neurologists and pediatricians. "There's no sign of trouble so far," Adrovic says. Was it because of KC? "Nobody knows," she says. It could have been that; it could have been the high level of care from both her and the staff, Adrovic says. "And it could have been my prayers." Regardless, she feels blessed to have her "miracle baby" and to have had the opportunity to offer KC in the NICU. "If they allowed me to do this much for my baby, if they say that this thing can help so much, why wouldn't I try it? I think kangarooing is the best thing for the premature babies, or any babies. I believe Mom can heal everything." "If they allowed me to do this much for my baby, if they say that this thing can help so much, why wouldn't I try it? I think kangarooing is the best thing for the premature babies, or any babies. I believe Mom can heal everything." After researching the benefits of Kangaroo Care for both parents and babies, nurses Tammy Hendrix, Tammy Yoho and Tracy Anderson launched "Roo in the NICU" at Rose Medical Center. The trio now educate staff members in Neonatal Intensive Care Units across the country on the benefits of the special holding technique.