Discussion
hypoglycemia, hypothermia
HYPOGLYCEMIA, ASPHYXIATION
This study was conducted to compare the effect of KC by mothers and maternal grandmothers on the vital signs of preterm newborns. The findings showed that the newborns studied in this research were homogenous in terms of age, gender, feeding, and birth method without any significant differences between them. When the mother or maternal grandmother was providing KC, the newborns’ heart rate and respiration rate were lower compared to before and after receiving KC. On the other hand, the SpOIn both the mother and maternal grandmother KC groups, the respiration rate decreased. Although there was an increase in this rate again after KC, it was still lower than the levels of it before KC. This effect was the same for KC given by the mother and maternal grandmother. In line with the findings of this research, the studies by Cho et al. and Gebuza et al. showed that KC can be effective in stabilizing newborns’ physiological performance, such as respiration rate [The findings also showed that the newborns’ heart rate dropped during KC in both the mother and maternal grandmother groups compared to before and after KC. Although the heart rate increased after KC, it was still lower than before the intervention. Deng et al. in their study protocol refer to the studies that stated skin-to-skin care in preterm newborns by another family member (father) leads to the better persistence of physiological parameters, including the stabilization of heart rate and neurological outcomes [The results also showed that the newborns’ SpOThe results further showed that the newborns’ body temperature during KC in both the mother and maternal grandmother did not differ significantly from before and after the newborns were put in an incubator. As it is warm in the incubator and preterm newborns have difficulty regulating their body temperature, they are expected to experience a drop in body temperature when taken out of the incubator. Similar studies showed that newborns receiving KC experience a significant improvement in problems such as hypothermia and hypoglycemia compared to newborns receiving routine care [Since the newborn sensory system is highly sensitive, when they are embraced, newborns will sense heart rate, breathing, temperature, and body position, a sensory experience that helps stabilize temperature and heart rate and reduce respiratory rate during KC [In a kangaroo position, the newborn is placed vertically over the mother’s chest, the limbs are bent to the frog position, and the head tilted to one side with the neck straight to facilitate breathing and avoid asphyxiation. This vertical position is better for oxygenation compared to sleeping on the back, increases lung volume, helps newborns achieve their movement milestones faster, and prevents asymmetric postures [