Kangaroo Care: Is It for Everyone?

Abstract

Purpose: In spite of the benefits reported for kangaroo holding, many mothers of preterm infants requiring intensive care do not choose to hold kangaroo style. The purpose of this study is to describe factors that influence mothers of healthy preterm infants to choose kangaroo holding compared to the standard care method of blanket holding.Sample: Twenty-four primiparous mothers of healthy infants born at 30–34 weeks gestational age.Design: In this naturalistic inquiry, mothers were interviewed twice: once while the infant was hospitalized and again after the infant was discharged home.Results: Mothers’ holding practices divided them into three groups: (1) kangaroo holding in hospital and home, (2) blanket holding in hospital and home, and (3) holding practice switched from hospital to home. Three themes emerged from the interview data: (1) emotional state, (2) holding environment, and (3) benefits of close contact with the infant.