Youngsters inside Niswonger Children’s Hospital were greeted by a pair of unlikely guests Thursday as the facility celebrated the efforts of working with premature children.
Dr. Shawn Hollinger, neonatologist at the hospital, and his son, Will, donned kangaroo attire and visited children inside the NCIU department to highlight the 250 hours of kangaroo care performed by parents.
“Kangaroo care is where the baby is stripped down to their diaper and they lay skin-to-skin either on their mother or father’s chest,” Dr. Hollinger said. “It’s an incredibly special time for parents and their children to bond and both parents and the babies tend to enjoy it a lot.”
The method has been practiced by the hospital heavily over the past three to four months, Dr. Hollinger said, and the nurses and participants always set a goal during May, which is known as International Kangaroo Care Month.
“We’ve always had a wonderful response from our parents and nurses in NCIU,” the doctor said. “The department has always surpassed their goal so this year we set a goal of 250 hours of kangaroo care time.”
Midway through the month, the doctor agreed to donning the attire to visit children if the staff was able to hit the mark.
“It is a little embarrassing,” he said with a laugh. “But if it allows us to come together and promote this care, it is well worth it. Our staff and parents do a tremendous job.”
Parents typically hold their children for around two hours in the NCIU, but the doctor added that the method is well-received by premature children and children born at their regularly scheduled birth date.
“It has other measured effects,” Dr. Hollinger said. “With babies in the NCIU, it regulates their respiratory rate, it regulates their heart rate, it’s been shown to increase a mother’s milk supply when they’re breastfeeding, regulates body temperature and also has been shown to shortage their stay in the hospital.”
Brittani and Nick Hirschy were quick to sing the praises of the initiatives. Dr. Hollinger and his son visited the family and their son, Jaxton, who was born at only 28 weeks.
Brittani said that Jaxton has been in the NCIU for 45 days but has been able to make strides in his progression thanks to kangaroo care.
“He’s very content when we do kangaroo care with him,” said Brittani Hirschy. “He calms quickly and sleeps so well. Jaxton’s growing really well and gaining weight, and they feel that the amount of kangaroo care we’ve done with him is a major factor. It’s been so amazing to bond with him and know that what we’re doing is helping him so much.”
The day was also a special bonding moment for the doctor and his son. Dr. Hollinger explained that Will went through kangaroo care.
“My son was born at 31 weeks,” Dr. Hollinger explained. “Back in February 2016 he was born premature. He was in the NCIU for 31 days. Especially in the first week of life, he struggled with temperature and breathing. My wife and I did a lot of kangaroo care and that’s when we found out he was at his most stable stage. It’s one thing when you read the studies and hear about the benefits but seeing it firsthand really just showed me what a powerful tool it can be for children that their parents can do.”