Publication:

Effect of kangaroo mother care in preterm versus term intra uterine growth restriction neonates

Background Low Birth Weight newborns are either Preterm or IUGR. These both have different morbidities and outcomes. KMC is an effective intervention for LBW infants. Here authors study the effectiveness of KMC in preterm babies and full term IUGR babies.

Methods Prospective, Observational, comparative study in which 50 Preterm AGA and 50 Term IUGR included which are hemodynamically stable. effective KMC given and their daily weight gain were observed.

Results Term IUGR having average birthweight is 2083.7±177.9 gm and discharge weight 2179.4±183.8 and preterm AGA are having average birthweight 1972.9±198.9gm and weight on discharge 1962.2±201.0. IUGR term newborns had mean weight loss for 0.90±1.05 days with mean weight loss of 17.94±28.8 grams with average weight loss of 0.9% followed by mean weight gain of 26.6±14.2 grams per day for mean 4.36±0.74 days. Preterm AGA shows weight loss for 3.54±1.5 days with mean weight loss of 98.06±80.83 grams and average 5.4% followed by mean weight gain of 20.4±8.9 grams 4.22±0.97 per day for mean 4.36±0.74 days. With average hospital stay of 5.26±1.2 and 7.76±1.51 days respectively for Term IUGR and Preterm AGA.

Conclusions KMC helps in decreasing the morbidities, achieving physiological weight gain and early discharge in both IUGR term and preterm AGA new-borns but maintaining their physiological pattern of weight gain.