1. Intermittent Kangaroo Mother Care

2. Intermittent KMC Intermittent KMC is practiced with infants:
Where incubators or warm rooms are available
Who are not yet clinically stable
Who are receiving oxygen therapy
In situations where there is no space for rooming-in – the majority case for African settings
Intermittent KMC can take place throughout the day
The time period can vary from minutes to hours at a time
Practicing intermittent KMC after feeding is a missed opportunity
The duration of intermittent KMC depends on the condition of the infant and the availability of the mother
It encourages the mother to take part in care of her infant
No special equipment is required – just willing mothers and staff to act as counsellors
PEP unit 43 Principles of KMC

3. Institutional arrangement of KMC
Continuous KMC is not the only option.
The range of possible KMC applications is co-determined by the availability and type of lodging facilities for mothers.

4. The benefits of KMC also apply to intermittent KMC
Improved cardiac and respiratory stability
Improved gastrointestinal function
Higher initiation & duration of breastfeeding
Protection against infections
Effective thermal control
Infants are less stressed
The mother’s confidence in caring for her infant is boosted
Improved bonding between mother and infant due to the physical closeness between them
Mothers are empowered to play an active role in their infants care
Mothers are enabled to become the primary care giver of their infants

5. Mothers and families must be prepared for possible premature birth
The KMC chains of care
Ante-natal care
Hospital-based
care
Home-based care
Mothers and families must be prepared for possible premature birth
KMC follow-up
Hospital-based
care
Antenatal care
Home-based care

6. Documenting intermittent KMC
Intermittent KMC Chart
Name:
Reg No:
Date:
Age in days
Weight::
06h00
07h00
08h00
09h00
10h00
11h00
12h00
13h00
14h00
15h00
16h00
17h00
18h00
19h00
20h00
21h00
22h00
23h00
Total KMC time/day