A heartwarming image of a 5-year-old boy utilizing the “skin-to-skin” method to help his father warm his newborn twin sisters has surfaced online, receiving affection and appreciation from commenters.
The photo was uploaded to the Danish Facebook page “Parents and birth in Denmark” around three years ago. It has since picked up more traction and is once more doing the rounds on many platforms.
The picture depicts a young child showing compassion and love as he holds one of his premature twins as the other rests on his father’s chest.
The “skin-to-skin” method, also known as “Kangaroo care,” has gained popularity in Scandinavian maternity hospitals as an innovative approach to caring for premature babies. This method provides warmth and comfort by putting the skin of the parent next to the newborn’s. It has been shown that this technique produces analgesic or relaxing effects, reducing the response to pain in premature babies, whose brains and nervous systems are still developing and make them more sensitive to pain.
The effectiveness of the “skin-to-skin” technique in easing the suffering of premature newborns is demonstrated by research conducted by the National Institutes of Health. Beyond just pain relief, the practice also reduces postpartum stress, which promotes faster healing and better flourishing in premature newborns.
The resurfaced photograph has garnered significant attention on the internet, with many individuals expressing their enthusiasm for the ease of use and effectiveness of the process. Swedish Professor Uwe Ewald explains the health advantages of skin-to-skin contact for premature babies in the caption that accompanies the image. These advantages include quicker weight gain, calmer infants, and better breathing. Furthermore, in contrast to hospital germs, Ewald claims that the bacterial flora of the parents reduces the likelihood of serious infections in these susceptible neonates.
In the Nordic maternity hospitals that have adopted this innovative technique, the survival rate of premature babies has risen from 30% to an incredible 70% in recent years.
The endearing image continues to generate positive responses and discussions regarding the “skin-to-skin” approach, serving as a symbol of the beauty and significance of simple yet effective approaches for the wellness of preterm babies. Online communities are asked to share and discuss this heartwarming image in order to highlight the significance of such gestures of kindness in neonatal care.
