Kangaroo Care

I just thought I'd make mention of something I had never heard of before Dylan ended up in the NICU. It's called Kangaroo Care.

Kangaroo Care has nothing to do with the marsupials from Australia. Instead, it's the act of holding your infant against your bare chest, skin to skin. It's a rather simple idea, but for a first-time father, I'm completely amazed at how soothing it can be, both for Dylan and myself. It provides many benefits to the infant, including increasing the bonds between parent and child, helping to stimulate breathing and prevent apneas in pre-term babies, aiding in the retention of body heat and more.

Most importantly though, Dylan really seems to enjoy it. Normally, he will get a little feisty when the nurses check his vitals, especially when they take his blood pressure. His blood pressure is taken via a tiny cuff on his left ankle, and he really doesn't like the feeling of it. Also, he doesn't much care for his temperature being taken, either. They do that simply by holding a thermometer under his arm and holding his arm tight to his side. When they do either of these things, Dylan starts to whine or cry, flail about and arch his back to escape.

Now, if these things are done while being held kangaroo style by Mommy or Daddy, he might make a tiny whine, but mainly, he just stays still, sleeping. What would otherwise be an energy wasting ordeal for him turns into just another opportunity to catch a nap.

I'm sure many of you who have kids are reading this thinking, "What's the big deal- you're holding you kid. So what?", and I can completely understand. For me, as a first-time dad with a baby we were not supposed to be able to have, who decided to come 10 weeks early and is in intensive care... well... it's pretty darn special. Feeling his heart beating against my chest and his chest moving as he breathes... it's just very reassuring and encouraging.