"From Warmth to Wellness: Integrating Kangaroo Mother Care into Routine Postnatal Nursing Practice"

Abstract:  Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) is a simple, evidence-based, and cost-effective intervention that has demonstrated significant benefits for low birth weight and preterm infants, particularly in resource-limited settings. Originating as an alternative to conventional incubator care, KMC encompasses early, continuous, and prolonged skin-to-skin contact between mother and infant, exclusive breastfeeding, early discharge with adequate follow-up, and strong family involvement. Over the past few decades, global health organizations have strongly advocated for the integration of KMC into routine postnatal nursing practice due to its proven impact on neonatal survival, thermoregulation, breastfeeding success, infection prevention, and neurodevelopmental outcomes. Nurses play a pivotal role in initiating, sustaining, and monitoring KMC in both institutional and community settings. This review article critically examines the concept, components, physiological basis, and benefits of Kangaroo Mother Care, while emphasizing the central role of postnatal nurses in its implementation. It further explores strategies for integrating KMC into routine nursing workflows, identifies barriers and facilitators, and highlights the relevance of KMC within national and global maternal–child health frameworks. Strengthening nursing competencies and institutional support systems is essential to ensure sustainable and universal adoption of KMC as a standard of postnatal care.