Effect of Immediate Kangaroo Mother Care on Pain in Sick Low Birth Weight Neonates During Heel Prick in Mother–Newborn Intensive Care Unit

Abstract

Introduction: In the Mother-Newborn Intensive Care Unit(M–NICU), sick, low birth weight(LBW) neonates are cared for along with their mothers with facilities of level-II newborn care and postnatal care for mothers. Babies weighing 1–1.8 kg are admitted and Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) is started after birth without waiting for stabilization. This is immediate Kangaroo Mother Care (iKMC). There are studies on analgesic effect of KMC, but no studies on analgesic effect of iKMC in sick neonates; therefore, the present study was planned.

Aims and objectives: To compare pain score and recovery time from pain following heel prick in sick LBW neonates weighing 1–1.8 kg in iKMC and under radiant warmer.

Materials and methods: In the M-NICU, neonates are in iKMC for 12–18 hours. If iKMC is not possible, the baby is placed under radiant-warmer. LBW neonates are screened for hypoglycemia at 2, 6, 12, 24, 48-hour intervals by heel prick. Pain scoring was done by the Premature Infant Pain Profile (PIPP) score and the recovery time (time for heart rate to return to baseline) noted following heel prick in iKMC and under radiant warmer.

Results: 75 babies enrolled, 150 episodes of glucose estimation in iKMC and 150 in radiant warmer included. Mean(SD) baby weight(Kg) was 1512.93(171.10). Mean(SD) gestational age(Weeks) was 33.77(2.54). In the iKMC group, mean pain score(SD) was 7.59(2.27) and median(IQR) was 8.00(2.75). In the radiant warmer group, mean pain score(SD) was 14.41(2.04) and median(IQR) was 15.00(3.00). Mean recovery time(seconds)(SD) was 33.3(20.22) in the iKMC group and 92.43(49.68) in the radiant warmer group. The difference was statistically significant(P = <0.001).

Conclusion: In sick LBW neonates, painful procedures must be done in KMC, whenever possible.