Learning Objective #1: Discuss the implications of kangaroo holding premature infants as a nursing intervention to promote growth and development

Learning Objective #2: Describe the effects of kangaroo holding on maternal breast milk

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The practice of skin-to-skin holding of infants clad only in diapers against their mothers' chest for more than an hour at a time is thought to promote the mother's ability to produce breast milk, but has not been empirically tested. This study quantifies the maternal experience of kangaroo holding of premature infants while contributing one of the few empirical studies that measures an important maternal physiologic effect of kangaroo holding in the SCN environment. The purpose of this study is to describe the effect of kangaroo holding on maternal breast milk composition measured as calories per ounce.

Research Question: What is the relationship of kangaroo holding on mother's breast milk composition?

Design: This is a repeated measures crossover design. The dependent variable is the maternal response measured in caloric density composition of maternal breast milk per pumping event. The independent variable of the study is the kangaroo holding intervention.

A paired sample of 36 breastfeeding first-time mothers less than 35 years of age kangaroo held their infant for an hour in the SCN (holding condition) and, within 30 minutes after holding, mothers expressed their breast milk by pumping for the dependent study measure. Each mother completed two kangaroo holding experiences during their 4-day enrollment.

All expressed maternal breast milk was tested for fat and caloric composition using a Creamatocrit Plus centrifuge. Significantly more breast milk was expressed after every holding condition.

Significance: The relationship of feeding mothers breast milk to improved patient outcome is evident in neonatal, pediatric, and oncology research. The primary benefits of immune properties in breast milk, protein absorption in the gut, and improved digestion are the basis of use across patient populations in a clinical setting.