TOOL TIP:
Your baby will melt into your heart like butter in a hot homemade biscuit!
Kangaroo Care (KC) is a new technique for men of today. We have been using it for years with lactating (nursing) moms and parents of premature infants. Finally, the idea of skin-to-skin is now being promoted for dads of full-term infants.
This is how KC works: on the day of delivery, go prepared by wearing a button up shirt (and no undershirt). After the baby is delivered and the temperature is stable, he will be placed on mom’s chest (and to breast if she is going to breastfeed). The nurse should complete the initial assessment, a cap will be placed on the infant’s head, and a diaper will be put on. You should open, or remove your shirt and make yourself comfortable in a chair as close to the side of mom’s bed as possible. Ask the nurse to place your newborn vertically, head up, and midline on your chest. This will allow you to cradle the infant in the fetal position while placing one hand underneath the infant’s bottom, knees bent up into the tummy, and use the other hand to hold a blanket over the infant’s back.
Usually, after a brief period of adjustment, the infant will settle down and cuddle onto your chest. This encounter provides more satisfaction than just holding the baby. It will give you, the new dad, the opportunity to embrace and communicate with your newborn in ways that, up until now, have been impossible to do. I encourage you to listen to your baby. Repeat the soft sounds he makes back to him. This will allow both of you to take in the sound, smell, and touch of each other.
Kangaroo Care also promotes a positive feeling between mom and dad. Mom will see how well the infant is bonding with you, and that you are just as capable of nurturing, thus promoting a
Triad Bonding. Ask your families and friends to allow you a period of privacy to enhance this time (at least 30 minutes) of being a new family.
This special activity may be performed anytime after the birth of your baby. However, the sooner you take advantage of it (in the delivery room), the better. In my experience, the longer a dad waits to do Kangaroo Care the less likely he will be to embrace the experience. While in the delivery room, the male defenses are usually down and emotions are high. Take advantage of the window of opportunity you have and remember the sensation. (A note to mom: if you are able, take advantage of the situation and take plenty of photos and videos of baby with dad. If not, do not hesitate to ask the nurse to take the pictures for you. This is truly a photo opportunity!)
If, however, you have had a bad day, you are grumpy, you are tired or you have one or more beers or drink any alcohol do not do Kangaroo Care. You will find that all the pressure of the day will just vanish into thin air and with out you even knowing it you could very easily nod off into the nap zone. Put your baby back into the crib and try it another time.