Certain pictures are so poignant and strong that it’s nearly hard to look away. One such image shows a little child assisting his father in keeping his two preterm twin sisters warm.
About three years ago, it was first posted on the Danish Facebook group Parents and birth in Denmark. It has since been shared once more and is gaining popularity once more.
Maternity facilities in Scandinavia have implemented an intriguing new procedure for their newborn patients.
The “skin-to-skin” method is used in medicine to provide warmth and comfort to newborns, particularly those who are born prematurely. Because their brains and neurological systems have not fully grown, premature newborns are especially susceptible to pain. However, skin-to-skin contact appears to have a sedative or analgesic effect, which lessens their sensitivity to pain.
Often referred to as “Kangaroo care,” the goal is to provide the infants with positive, reassuring emotions at a crucial developmental period.
The National Institutes of Health’s research demonstrates that the method successfully lessens preterm infants’ suffering.
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This approach is said to help premature babies heal and start thriving more quickly by significantly lowering postpartum stress.
The aforementioned Scandinavian maternity hospitals have experienced amazing outcomes in recent years. Premature newborn survival has lately risen from 30% to an incredible 70%.
Numerous comments have been left on an image of this technique in action on the internet.
This image, which was first shared on the Danish Facebook group Parents and birth in Denmark, depicts a five-year-old child assisting his father with the “skin-to-skin” technique.
While one newborn rests on his father’s chest, the young boy cradles the second infant twin on his own.
With all of their eyes closed, it appears to be a peaceful scene where all involved are resting comfortably and feeling the closeness and benefits of this post-birth miracle method.
Recently, the image started spreading across the Internet again when it was posted on the NINO Birth Facebook page.
In the text that accompanies the photo, Swedish Professor Uwe Ewald describes how kangaroo care works: “Skin to skin contact helps the baby to breathe better. The child becomes more calm and gains weight faster. Research shows that parents bacterial flora – compared with hospital bacteria – reduces the risk of serious infections in these delicate children.”
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We are heart-warmed by this adorable, pure image and by such a simple but effective technique for parents of premature babies to use.
It certainly is both a beautiful and important picture, don’t you think? Share if you agree!
Let us know what you think about the image and the “skin-to-skin” method in the comments!
