Pioneer inclusion of a father in the Kangaroo method at the Northen Maternal Hospital
Abstract
We present the clinical case of a preterm twins delivery, in which both newborns had low birth weight (<1200 g) and required admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Following initial stabilization, skin-to-skin contact (kangaroo father care method) was initiated with active participation from both parents. Unprecedentedly within the institution and the province of Santiago de Cuba, the father assumed a full-time role as the primary kangaroo caregiver, representing the first documented case in the region with such paternal involvement. The clinical course of both infants was favorable and comparable, with no significant differences in weight gain or physiological response to skin-to-skin contact with either parent. The father's active participation ensured exclusive breastfeeding, reduced maternal stress, and optimized early bonding. This case represents a significant experience in the humanization of neonatal care, highlighting the importance of the paternal role in the hospital setting and in the early development of the newborn.
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