Welcome
This website is dedicated to the process and creation of a TCNJ biomedical engineering senior project. This website will be updated as the project progresses through the academic year.
Background
Kangaroo Care is the skin-to-skin contact between a mother and infant which helps an infant’s adjustment from the womb [1]. Recent research has shown Kangaroo Care to have positive physiological effects on infants including increased body temperature, decreased respiratory distress, improved rhythm of sleep wake cycle, and decreased stress [2]. However, premature infants that require incubation cannot receive Kangaroo Care, even though they are more likely to suffer from decreased body temperature, respiratory distress, offset sleep cycles, and increased stress [3].
[1]Mori, Rintaro, et al. “Meta-Analysis of Physiological Effects of Skin-to-Skin Contact for Newborns and Mothers.” Pediatrics International, vol. 52, no. 2, 2010, pp. 161–170., https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1442-200x.2009.02909.x.
[2]Cho, Eun-Sook, et al. “The Effects of Kangaroo Care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit on the Physiological Functions of Preterm Infants, Maternal–Infant Attachment, and Maternal Stress.” Journal of Pediatric Nursing, vol. 31, no. 4, 2016, pp. 430–438., https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2016.02.007.
[3]Johnston, C. Celeste, et al. “Kangaroo Care Is Effective in Diminishing Pain Response in Preterm Neonates.” Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, vol. 157, no. 11, 2003, p. 1084., https://doi.org/10.1001/archpedi.157.11.1084.
[4] MacDemystMed. “Kangaroo Care: Skin-to-Skin Contact.” YouTube, YouTube, 18 Oct. 2017, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EY2Axw1PZRI&t=4s.