A KANGAROO MOTHER CARE WARD

44-25 WHAT IS A KANGAROO MOTHER CARE WARD?

This is a special room where mothers can room-in for a few days so that they can give continuous KMC to their infants under supervision both day and night. Most of these mothers are well and do not need nursing care or routine observations. Every effort must be made to make the KMC ward as homely as possible and not look like a typical hospital ward. Mothers are encouraged to wear their own clothes and walk around. The KMC ward should be close to the nursery if possible. Ideally, a door should link the KMC ward with the nursery so that help can be obtained if needed. Limited visiting is allowed in the KMC ward but the mothers’ privacy must be respected.

A KANGAROO CARE WARD ENABLES THE MOTHER TO GIVE HER INFANT KANGAROO MOTHER CARE BOTH DAY AND NIGHT BASIS WHILE BEING SUPERVISED BY THE STAFF

At night most mothers prefer to sleep on their backs with the infant on their chest and their head and shoulders propped up with pillows into a semi-sitting position. Other mothers sleep on their side with the infant still in the KMC position.

44-26 WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF A KANGAROO MOTHER CARE WARD?

A dedicated KMC ward provides a very valuable step between giving intermittent KMC in the nursery and giving continuous KMC at home. In a KMC ward mothers gain experience and confidence before going home with their infants. Mothers support, teach and encourage each other.

44-27 WHAT FACILITIES ARE NEEDED IN THE KANGAROO MOTHER CARE WARD?

1. A space for the mothers to sleep. One to four rooms with four beds per room is ideal.
2. A living space where the mothers can eat and relax.
3. Toilets, showers and hand basins

Cribs are not needed in a KMC ward as the infants are continuously with their mothers. However, plastic bassinettes are sometimes used to bath infants. The room temperature should be 22-24 *C.

Mothers should be able to give KMC during meals. Daily showering or washing is adequate. Mothers must wash their hands after going to the toilet. Facilities for washing clothes are needed.

Some facilities can be shared with the lodging ward. Mothers in the lodger ward can be encouraged and supported by meeting mothers in the KMC ward. In future all neonatal nurseries should be designed with both a KMC ward and a lodging ward nearby.

44-28 WHAT FURNITURE IS NEEDED IN THE KANGAROO MOTHER CARE WARD?

The following is recommended:

1. Basic beds. Special hospital beds are not needed but enough pillows are necessary.
2. Small lockers where the mothers’ clothes and personal items can be safely kept.
3. Comfortable chairs where mothers can sit to breast feed and give KMC. Light plastic chairs are cheap and practical.
4. Tables and chairs for meals.
5. Desk, chair and basic office equipment for the staff. A telephone is useful.
6. Cupboards for storing extra blankets.
7. Curtains to allow some privacy are useful.

There should be no cots in the KMC ward. The mother can wrap up her infant and leave it on the bed when she goes to the toilet. If there is not enough space for chairs, mothers will have to sit on their beds, and have their meals in another room nearby.

It makes an enormous difference if the KMC ward is attractively painted, new curtains and bed covers are made, and posters or murals of KMC are put on the walls. Funding can usually be obtained from local charities.

44-29 WHAT NURSING IS NEEDED IN THE KANGAROO MOTHER CARE WARD?

A nurse is needed to supervise the mothers in the KMC ward. Most mothers have already been trained in KMC before they reach the KMC ward. It is important to have a nurse who is experienced and enthusiastic about KMC. A professional nurse is preferable. However, a non-professional nurse can be used as the KMC ward supervisor. It is helpful but not essential to have a nurse in the KMC ward at night. If a nurse is not available, the KMC ward must be close to the nursery so that the mothers can call for help if needed. Usually a team of two or three nurses is needed to provide adequate day cover in a KMC ward. The nurse should have experience in caring for low birth weight infants and be able to recognise an ill infant.

Volunteers (lay helpers) are of great help in a KMC ward. They can encourage mothers, help them give KMC and teach them to express their breast milk if necessary. A kind, motherly person who has breast fed and given KMC to her own infant is an ideal helper. Many helpers only work one or two days a week, often in the mornings. Some helpers may need funds for transport or a small payment for their time.

Usually only well, thriving infants are admitted to the KMC ward. However, if infants below 1500 g or infants still being fed by nasogastric tube are admitted, then an experienced nurse is needed both day and night. Good cord care must not be forgotten.