Kangaroo Care lesson for Grey’s Anatomy

November 8, 2009 by Cathy Ribble  
Filed under: News

F-It!
 

Leave a comment

Grey’s Anatomy actors and fans had a lesson in preemie kangaroo care this week.

Thursday’s episode kicked off with an emergency c-section for a pregnant woman injured in an auto accident.  The medical crisis intensified as both mom and baby experienced bleeding on their brains.

As both mom and baby seem to make a turn for the worse, the frantic mother screams out that she does not want her baby to die without even being held.  Dr. Karev’s focus on the baby’s medical needs gradually clears his head of his own problems with Izzy.  Finally, Karev cannot resist the infant any longer, and he cuddles the tiny baby to his chest.  When Dr. Bailey enters the nursery, she notices that the baby’s numbers on the medical monitors are improving.  Bailey experiences an epiphany and demands that Karev remove his shirt so that the baby will have skin-to-skin contact.  Karev gets his first lesson in the preemie phenomenon known as “kangaroo care.”

greys_anatomyKangaroo care refers to skin-to-skin holding between a premature newborn, preferably with the baby’s parents.  The child thrives on the nearness, warmth and love of another human being.  Kangaroo care babies experience fewer apnea and bradycardia episodes and their oxygen needs begin to stabilize.

These babies begin to maintain their body temperature, and they are calmed by the present of their mother.  The process usually begins with the birth mother if she is able, and then gradually kangaroo times are alternated between mother and father.

As infants become strong enough, there is a natural progression to breastfeeding.  Often, the mother will experience an increase in her milk production.  This is especially important if a mother is trying to provide breastmilk for twins or other multiple births.

Just as the NICU warming beds simulate the mother’s womb, the skin-on-skin contact simulates the process which happens when a baby kangaroo continues to grow and develop in his mother’s pouch.  The process provides excellent teaching opportunities for the new parents to begin learning the complexities of caring for a premature infant.

When my twin grandsons were born three months early, they were so tiny they had to be separated and placed in separate warming beds in separate rooms.  Finally, the NICU nurses began kangaroo care with each baby, and then one day the nurses reunited the boys for the first time since birth on their mother’s chest.  That was a very special moment for this grandmother who had tears of joy in her eyes as she watched her grandsons reach out to each other.

[Post to Twitter]  [Post to Delicious]  [Post to Digg]  [Post to Reddit]  [Post to StumbleUpon] 

Welcome back! If you love Baby Chums, please subscribe to our RSS feed.
Thanks for dropping by and enjoy!


Read More related stories...
1 in 10 Babies Born Premature
The first attempt to measure the number of worldwide premature...
L’Oreal claims it could turn grey hair back to it’s original colour
L'Oreal, the world's largest cosmetics and beauty company, claims it...
Twins Taken Into Care After Mother Jokes They Have Ruined Her Body
A mother was left angry after her twin babies were...
Your Ad Here
Bambino Direct

Comments

Tell us what you're thinking...
and oh, if you want a pic to show with your comment, go get a gravatar!





Recent Posts

It’s a Girl for Actress Gina BellmanIt’s a Girl for Actress Gina Bellman

A rep for the Leverage star has confirmed that Gina Bellman welcomed a daughter back in November. A little late than never,... »

Donald Trump Forgets His Young Son’s Real AgeDonald Trump Forgets His Young Son’s Real Age

Donald Trump is denying the rumors that there are marital problems with his wife Melania but one thing he can't deny is... »

Katie Price and Alex Reid Already Trying for a BabyKatie Price and Alex Reid Already Trying for a Baby

After just getting married last week in a quick wedding in Las Vegas, Katie Price admits that her and Alex are already trying... »

Official numbers reveal UK girls pregnant at 10Official numbers reveal UK girls pregnant at 10

Official numbers out of the UK reveal that girls as young as 10 are getting pregnant. The U.K.’s newspaper The Sun has... »

Victoria Beckham Ready for Another Child and Hoping for a GirlVictoria Beckham Ready for Another Child and Hoping for a Girl

According to rumors Victoria Beckham is ready to have another child later this year and is desperately hoping for a... »

David and Courteney Arquette Considering Adoption for Second ChildDavid and Courteney Arquette Considering Adoption for Second Child

In a recent interview on the Bonnie Hunt Show, David Arquette revealed that trying for child number two is "hard... »

Bollywood Actress Amrita Arora Welcomes a SonBollywood Actress Amrita Arora Welcomes a Son

It's a boy for actress Amrita Arora and her husband Shakeel Ladak. The couple welcomed their first child on, a boy on... »

Keri Russell Says Son Takes After HerKeri Russell Says Son Takes After Her

The Extraordinary Measures actress dishes on her 2 year old son River and the traits he has inherited from her. According... »

Pete Wentz Reveals How Much His Son Has Taught HimPete Wentz Reveals How Much His Son Has Taught Him

Although Pete Wentz's future in the band Fall Out Boy may be questionable one thing that the musician knows is that he would... »

Heidi Klum Says Lou Is “Very Attached” to HerHeidi Klum Says Lou Is “Very Attached” to Her

According to Heidi Klum her and her 4 month old daughter Lou are a package deal. Even though the model will be away from her... »

    ITN News Entertainment Videos

    Loading...