WakeMed NICU to Compete in Kangaroo-A-Thon

This year, the WakeMed NICU is hosting a Kangaroo-A-Thon from May 8th to May 19th. The Kangaroo-A-Thon is part of a larger, nationwide Kangaroo Challenge in which hospitals from around the world compete to encourage kangaroo care between new parents and their babies.

Learn more about Kangaroo Care at WakeMed.

What is a Kangaroo Care?

Also referred to as skin-to-skin care, Kangaroo care is when you hold your baby naked (or in a diaper) on your bare chest. Holding your baby this way allows him/her to get to know you through your scent, touch, voice, and the feel of your skin.

Why does this matter?

Studies show that there are numerous benefits to Kangaroo care, especially in the growth and development of a baby’s brain.

Other benefits include (but are not limited to) helping your baby:

Regulate the right body temperature
Know you better
Cry less
Sleep better
And more

The 2017 Kangaroo Challenge

The WakeMed NICU is excited to participate in this year’s Kangaroo Challenge by hosting a Kangaroo-A-Thon.

Last year, nearly 100 hospitals from around the world participated in the Kangaroo Challenge. The Challenge asks hospitals to encourage Kangaroo care among parents of newborns, and it looks at the overall amount of time that babies were held per hour, per day. The Challenge culminates on May 15th, which is International Kangaroo Care Awareness Day.

kangaroo-care-ben-humphries-600x420 — (R) Ben Humphries holds his daughter five days after birth. She was born at 25weeks, 1lb, 9oz. Ben and his wife, Katie, did kangaroo care every day for 83 days. Their daughter was discharged at 37 weeks with no major medical concerns. Every doctor attributed her phenomenal success to the Humprhies’ dedication to kangaroo.

WakeMed NICU Kangaroo-A-Thon

During the WakeMed NICU Kangaroo-A-Thon, parents are educated on the benefits of kangaroo care for babies and asked to hold their baby skin to skin as often as possible.

Almost everything we have during our celebration is donated. We have donations from staff, parents, members of the community and the Ronald McDonald House.

Through all of our efforts with our Kangaroo-A-Thon and competing in the Kangaroo Challenge, we hope to engage more parents in the benefits of Kangaroo Care.