The Chatham-Kent Health Alliance has accepted the challenge of promoting the benefits of skin-to-skin care for premature babies.
The Women and Children's Program at CKHA is competing in the global Kangaroo Challenge.
"Kangaroo Care" is the practice of holding an infant dressed in only a diaper against the bare chest of a parent or family member. It's become best practice for premature babies because of the healing benefits.
"We are thrilled to be participating in this fun and informative challenge," says Jill Cousins, clinical manager for CKHA's Women and Children's Program. "Kangaroo care is quickly becoming best practice and has many proven benefits to both baby and family. We are looking forward to working with families on our unit to increase skin-to-skin time as well as educating on its positive benefits."
The hospital will report the number of hours of skin-to-skin care each baby in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) received each day from May 1-15. The results will be announced on Kangaroo Care Awareness Day on May 15.
