International Kangaroo Care Awareness Day!

Today is International Kangaroo Care Awareness Day! 

The kangaroo hold is a safe way for moms to hold their preemie babies. The baby is placed on the chest on direct skin. The baby only wears a diaper so they can feel your skin. It is a wonderful time for a mom to bond with her baby, but it is also beneficial for the baby. The skin-to-skin helps comfort the baby and can even help with stabilizing their heart rate and breathing patterns.

 Elizabeth was about 3 weeks old before I could hold her.

 

Abigail was about 6.

 I can still remember the first time I got to do the kangaroo hold with them. I was nervous because they were so small, but it also felt amazing to hold them for the first time.  

So to all the moms out there in the NICU world take some time and celebrate today by Kangarooing!