In a hospital setting, KMC typically stands for Kangaroo Mother Care.
Kangaroo Mother Care is a special way to care for premature and low birth weight babies. It involves:
- Skin-to-skin contact: The baby is placed directly on the mother's chest.
- Frequent or exclusive breastfeeding: Encouraging breastfeeding to provide optimal nutrition.
- Early discharge from the hospital: Allowing the mother and baby to go home sooner, with continued KMC.
The goal of KMC is to help these babies thrive by keeping them warm, promoting bonding with their mother, and improving their overall health. According to studies, Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC), often defined as skin–to–skin contact between a mother and her newborn, frequent or exclusive breastfeeding, and early discharge from the hospital, has been effective in reducing the risk of mortality among preterm and low birth weight infants.
