When were you able to do Kangaroo care in NICU?

hrking2011 · March 2011

My LO is a week old (born 33 weeks) breathing on her own, taking 30mL of breastmilk and they just took all her iv's out this morning and I was wondering around what time you were able to start doing kangaroo care if at all in the NICU?

Kiki11 · March 2011

I got to do kangaroo care with my 25 weeker when he was 4 days old and still on the ventilator.

hrking2011 · March 2011

Kiki11:
I got to do kangaroo care with my 25 weeker when he was 4 days old and still on the ventilator.

So should I just mention it to her nurses then? I just feel like I dont get that closeness with her.

irishdo · March 2011

Right about at 2 weeks. They wanted his A line out first but he was still intubated with PICC in. I would defintely say something.

meldoo2002 · March 2011

DH was actually first to do kangaroo care with Joey... he was probably 3 days old (awful I can't remember).... they were born at 30w3d....still on CPAP and I'm not even sure he was taking breast milk yet. After that we did it once/day with each baby until they were more stable and moved to the critical care nursery where we could hold them when we wanted to.

mrsV719 · March 2011

Tyler was born at 28w4d and we held him as soon as he got off of humidity. He was 9 days old... and on the nasal cannula.

I would def. ask the primary nurse and/or the nurse you feel the most comfortable with.

Side note: Tyler is 33w4d now and we are working on suck/swallow/breathe and I felt like he was ready to try a bottle/nipple even tho the PT and Drs. didn't think so. But I pay more attention to him for more time... and in speaking with one of the nurses, she thought we could try. So today we tried the nipple and he sucked for a little while!! The reason I tell you this is that the nurses and drs. are busy with a lot of babies... you are only busy with yours. You know what they need better than them sometimes... so don't be afraid to speak up! You are the MOM and mothers know best! Good luck!!!

hrking2011 · March 2011

mrsV719:

Side note: Tyler is 33w4d now and we are working on suck/swallow/breathe and I felt like he was ready to try a bottle/nipple even tho the PT and Drs. didn't think so. But I pay more attention to him for more time... and in speaking with one of the nurses, she thought we could try. So today we tried the nipple and he sucked for a little while!! The reason I tell you this is that the nurses and drs. are busy with a lot of babies... you are only busy with yours. You know what they need better than them sometimes... so don't be afraid to speak up! You are the MOM and mothers know best! Good luck!!!

Thats great he's starting to suck! I've only gotten to breastfeed Teagen once but it was such a special moment and I was so proud of her! I'm definatly gonna ask about the kangaroo time tuesday when I drive back up to see her.

JakesBride07 · March 2011

We could do kangaroo care or holding once the A line was out with our baby boy. Baby girl is almost 5 weeks old and we were going to do kangaroo care for the first time today...making this only the third time I would have held her.

I have a whole post below about how some nurses refuse to let me hold her. The Neo finally put his foot Down and made it happen, or almost atleast. I had to leave today before I got the chance to hold her.

SurpriseMama · March 2011

My son was born last Friday at 30 weeks, and we were able to start kangaroo on Sunday as soon as he was off the vent. He is on CPAP, NG tube and lots of other things, but we just have the nurses help us pick him up and we can hold him for up to an hour if he can maintain his temp and HR that long

JosiePosy · March 2011

We started early on. Within the first week I believe. Even if it was only for 15 minutes, we tried to do it as often as possible when we could. As the kids grew more stable, we were able to keep them out of the isolettes longer and do more kangaroo with them.

bhilyer · March 2011

My boys were born last Sunday at 29w6d and I've done KC with both of them. I would definitely ask about it.

LuckyMom0203 · March 2011

Annie was two days old (born at 26 weeks) and she was on the vent when I did it. They gave us a restriction of one hour at first and said that we could continue that as long as I could keep her warm. I would definitely push for this-- I feel like it's a huge part of why Annie did so well.

Good luck!

lgmom2010 · March 2011

We started kangaroo care 10 days after DD was born. We weren't allowed to hold her until she was off of humidity in her incubator.

CBJmommy · March 2011

LO was born at 31 weeks even and we did kangaroo care on day 1 and every day for the 4 weeks she was in NICU.

st.augbride · March 2011

I started doing it when LO was about 4 days old (born 34 weeks 5 days with IUGR). He was in an open air bassinet then, but I maybe could have done it sooner. I was just so new and didn't think to ask or know what I could/couldn't do. Finally a nurse suggested it so I did it every day since there.

MrsShrek1028 · March 2011

Avery was born at 27w 4d, we started KC at 8days old

str8ota · March 2011

DD was born at 29 w and came out on room air so we were able to do KC within a few days. I would def. ask the nurses, they should be encouraging you or giving you some possible time line when you can. GL, you'll love it!

momof30weeker · March 2011

We had to wait until his umbilical lines came out. It was 9 days after he was born before I could hold him. I think each NICU is different when it comes to how soon they can be held.

megan1019 · March 2011

I would 110% ask about it if not suggested to you. I was able to KC day #2 but he was never on any air. Good Luck! You will love it!

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