Kangaroo-a-thon

Kangaroo Throw Down!

The goal of our Kangaroo-A-Thon is to encourage all NICU and SCN Units to actively promote Kangaroo Care and log as many hours of kangaroo holding (including modified holding) in a 2 week period. We hope you can host an event across the 2 week duration in May. We want to see as many hours of brain developing, neuro-protective, attachment building, and immunity boosting good times.
 
Sunnybrook Health Science Centre in Toronto Canada found that a kangaroo-a-thon was a fantastic way to break down barriers, unite staff and families with a common goal and witness the transformation of parents, as they were encouraged to cuddle with their infant.

What do you need to do?

We have a tool kit you can us to, promote, educate and host your kangarooing event. The idea is to break down obstacles that may discourage your unit from doing this. We encourage you to;

• Print and provide each family a parent info letter and cuddle count form so they can log their hours.
• Print and use freely any of the promotional posters or flyers.
• Print the free colouring in sheet for kids to enter our colouring in competition with a chance to win a cuddly prize.
• Join us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter and encourage families to post comments and photographs #miraclebabies #kangaroocare #kangaroocuddle #nicu #specialcare #premmie
• At the end of your kangaroo-a-thon, tally and email your total hours.

What is Kangaroo Care?

Kangaroo care or skin-to-skin care is a special way both mums and dads can spend time holding their baby and it is an experience parents remember fondly during their hospital stay.

Babies wear only a nappy and are placed in an upright position directly on their dad’s bare chest or between mum’s bare breasts. The baby’s head will be turned to the side and then a blanket is placed on top.

Depending on your baby’s medical condition, you may be able to have your first cuddle the day they are born. Other times, you may need to wait days or weeks before their condition is stable enough for you to do so.

It is a good idea to ask your baby’s nurse when would be a good time, as some days may be better than others depending on how your baby is feeling, how you are feeling or what is going on in the nursery.

Kangaroo care can be done with both premature and full-term babies and is known to have many benefits, such as:

Benefits to Baby:

• Maintain baby’s body temperature
• Regulates baby’s heart and breathing rates
• Encourages baby to spend more time in a deep sleep
• Increases baby’s weight gain
• Improved oxygen saturation levels
• Can improve breast milk production and increases the chances of successful breastfeeding
• Longer periods of alertness
• Helps promote frequent breastfeeding

Benefits to Parents:

• Can build confidence
• Increases your bond with baby and can ease feeling of separation
• Can improve breast milk production and increases the chances of successful breastfeeding

"I visited my son an average of 12 hours everyday and spent most hours next to his bedside. The time I treasured most was our daily Kangaroo cuddles; we would spend 2 hours snuggling together, often with the both of us drifting off to sleep. Though there were lots happening around us it often seemed that we were the only two people in the room." - Naomi, Miracle Mum to Caden born at 29 weeks.

Parents should not apply strong perfumes and deodorant or smoke before participating in kangaroo care time with their baby. If the doctors feel that cuddling would be too much for your baby, you can still provide them comfort by offering your finger to grasp, talking or singing to them. However, it is always important to speak with your baby's medical team if you have any questions in relation to kangaroo cuddles during this pandemic.

Previous Kangaroo-a-thons: 
Thank you to all the hospital NICU & SCN locations who participated in the 2019 Kangaroo-A-Thon! It was incredibly encouraging to see how hard everyone worked to promote this vital campaign. We hope you all had a hopping good time and increased education and awareness with your families and staff.  

After tallying up all the results across Australia and Internationally, we are pleased to announce our Winner is Rockhampton Hospital (pictured left & middle) & Runner Up is Darwin Hospital (pictured right).
 

2019 Participating Hospitals:
NSW:

Campbelltown Special Care Nursery, Glen Alpine
The Children's Hospital at Westmead
The Northern Beaches Hospital, Frenchs Forest
Westmead Hospital, Westmead
Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards
Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital, Bankstown
Fairfield Hospital Special Care Nursery, Prairiewood
Nepean Hospital, Glenmore Park
John Hunter Hospital, New Lambton
John Hunter Children’s Hospital, New Lambton
Royal Prince Alfred, Camperdown
Canterbury Hospital, Campsie
Wollongong Hospital, Wollongong
Royal Hospital For Women, Randwick
Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool

VIC:

Monash Childrens Hospital, Melbourne
Frankston Hospital, Frakston
Mercy Hospital for Women, Heidelberg
Joan Kirner Women and Children's Hospital, St Albans

QLD:

Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Brisbane
Sunshine Coast University Hospital, Buderim
Townsville Hospital, Douglas
Rockhampton Base, Rockhampton
Redland Hospital Special Care Nursery, Cleveland
Gold Coast Private Hospital, Southport
Logan Hospital, Meadowbrook
Gold Coast University Hospital, Southport

ACT:

Centenary Hospital For Women and Children, Garran
Calvary Public Hospital, Bruce 

SA:

Women's & Children's Hospital, Adelaide
Lyell McEwin Hospital, Elizabeth Vale

NT:

Royal Darwin Hospital

WA:

Fiona Stanley Hospital, Murdoch
King Edward Memorial Hospital, Subiaco
Perth Children’s Hospital, Nedlands

TAS:

Royal Hobart Hospital, Howrah
Launceston General Hospital, Launceston 

INTERNATIONAL:

Texas Children's Hospital, United States of America
Ayrshire Maternity Unit, Ayrshire, United Kingdom
Princess Royal Hospital, Telford, United Kingdom
Sunderland Royal Hospital, Tyne and Wear, United Kingdom