A nurse is providing care for a preterm infant who is receiving Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC). The nurse is aware that KMC should be continued until the infant reaches a weight of:

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AIIMS NORCET 8 Prelims Memory Based Paper 2025

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Answer 1

Correct Answer: 2500 gm

Rationale:

Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) is a method of care for preterm or low birth weight infants. It involves skin-to-skin contact between the mother (or caregiver) and the infant, and it is known to provide significant benefits for the baby's growth, development, and overall health.
KMC should ideally be continued until the infant reaches a weight of around 2500 grams. At this weight, the baby is considered to have achieved a sufficient level of maturity and growth to maintain body temperature, immunity, and other physiological functions without the need for constant skin-to-skin contact.
The practice of KMC helps in regulating the infant's body temperature, promoting breastfeeding, improving bonding between the mother and child, and reducing the risk of infections. These benefits are particularly important for preterm infants, who are more vulnerable to complications.

Explanation of Other Options:

1500 gm

Rationale: While KMC can be initiated for infants weighing as little as 1500 grams or even less, discontinuing KMC at this weight would be premature. At 1500 grams, the infant's physiological systems are still underdeveloped, and they continue to benefit significantly from KMC.

2000 gm

Rationale: Although some benefits of KMC may be achieved by the time the baby reaches 2000 grams, it is still recommended to continue KMC until the baby reaches 2500 grams. This ensures the baby has achieved more stability in terms of thermoregulation and immunity.

3000 gm

Rationale: KMC is typically not required to be continued until 3000 grams. By this weight, the infant would have reached a level of maturity and growth where the benefits of KMC, such as thermoregulation and immunity support, are no longer as critical.

Conclusion:

KMC is a highly beneficial practice for preterm or low birth weight infants, helping to improve their growth, health, and overall outcomes. The recommended weight to discontinue KMC is around 2500 grams, as this indicates the infant has achieved sufficient stability and maturity.
Continuing KMC until this weight ensures that the baby receives the maximum possible benefits, including better thermoregulation, reduced infection risk, and enhanced bonding with the caregiver.