Background: One of the important effects of kangaroo mother care (KMC) in preterm baby is improvement in weight gain and so shortening in hospitalization, but it is not clear that how long of kangaroo mother care is effective in weight gain. The aim of this study was to determine the least effective duration of kangaroo mother care in weight gain in very low birth weights.
Methods: Preterm babies with birth weight less than 1500 gr, without chronic cardiopulmonary disease, congenital anomaly and other medical problem when receiving to 140 ml/kg/d enteral feeding enrolled the study. KMC was started when the baby has been stabled, on the mother’s appetency and ability at bedside. The mean daily weight gain in KMC period was compared with expected that (15 mg/kg/d) for the same baby. The babies with KMC≥ 7 days were divided in three groups on the basis of mean daily KMC duration (< 30 min, 30-60 min and> 60). Statistical study performed by using SPSS software, version 22 (IBM SPSS, Armonk, NY, USA) and P values of less than 0.05 were considered to be significant.
Results: In this study, 103 preterm baby (47 boys, 56 girls) less than 1500 gr were enrolled, with mean birth weight 1107.85±190.87 gr. Mean weight gain of boys in KMC period and expected that were 324.78±162.66 gr Vs. 127.46±54.66 gr (P< 0.001). In eighty-seven babies who received KMC (7-40 days) mean daily weight gain was 26.69±15.55 gr (P< 0.001). Mean weight gain in KMC period for group with< 30 min (n=19), 402.63±126.29 gr Vs. 167.21±74.20 (P< 0.001), group with 30-60 min (n=54) were 338.79±182.60 gr Vs. 220.36±66.98 (P< 0.001) and group with 60< (n=14) 352.14±236.02 gr Vs. 259.96±112.23 (P= 0.09).
Conclusion: On the basis of this study KMC less than 1 hour per day is effective in weight gain of very low birth weight preterm babies.
