World Prematurity Day: The Power of Hugs
Today is World Prematurity Day, a day intended to raise awareness of the high rates of premature births worldwide. I’ve shared before about Keira (now 4) being born 11 weeks premature. I’ve shared a bit about our lengthy NICU stay, and I even (hesitantly) shared how hard my second pregnancy was because of the intense grief I felt over her premature birth.
Being a NICU parent is overwhelming and difficult whether you think you are prepared for it or not. Thankfully we lived close to the McMaster Children’s Hospital NICU at the time, where Keira was born and stayed for the first half of her hospital stay. This meant I was able to stay with her all day, every day without financial pressure or other obligations interfering as a first time mom.
Premature babies are particularly vulnerable, and are cared for around the clock. Their vitals are constantly monitored, they are treated and cared for by NICU staff as needed. We had to wait 5 days after her birth before we were able to hold Keira, and it was at that point we were encouraged to provide skin-to-skin hugs, otherwise known as Kangaroo-care.
Holding her tiny, not even 3 lb body, her skin against mine, was the first time I felt hope that we might get through this. It was the first time since my water broke that I felt happy.
We were told at the time that skin-to-skin hugs can help preemies regulate their breathing, heart-rate and maintain their body heat.
The truth is though, that skin-to-skin hugs can do so much more. Studies have shown skin-to-skin has numerous health benefits for all babies, including improved oxygen levels and pain tolerance, stabilized body temperatures, improved sleep, brain development and more. For premature babies, skin-to-skin also positively influences their short-term and long-term development. The human touch really is a critical element in the NICU, as well as generally in the development and care of newborns.
During our stay, we encountered many parents who weren’t quite so lucky. Parents who lived hours away and could only visit for a few hours in the evening or only on the weekend. Parents who were too ill themselves to be able to visit often. Parents with other children who needed their care at home.
Parents who often called in the middle of the night to make sure their baby was OK. Parents who worried that their baby might be crying in their incubators with nobody around to hold them.
This is why Huggies created No Baby Unhugged, an initiative designed to help hospitals ensure that all babies get the hugs they need, even when parents can’t be there.
Through the No Baby Unhugged program, Huggies has provided $50,000 in funding to two Canadian hospitals, with more in the works. To-date, Huggies has partnered with Cape Breton Regional Hospital in Sydney, Nova Scotia and Southlake Regional Health Centre in Newmarket, Ontario, offering funding to cover hugging chairs and stations, along with dozens of Hugger Volunteers in the neonatal intensive care units to help ensure all babies get the hugs they need. Over 600 babies are admitted to these hospitals each year, where hundreds of hours of care are offered by trained volunteers. Take a look at the heart-warming videos below featuring true stories captured at the these No Baby Unhugged hospitals, which expose the reality of NICU care and how this initiative is helping families:
Show your support by becoming a No Baby Unhugged Mom at nobabyunhugged.com. When you do, Huggies will thank you for your support by sending you free Huggies Diapers!
Disclosure: This post has been brought to you by Huggies. All thoughts and opinions are honest and my own.
What a special day! I have a friend who just had a premie and watching what she is going through is so heart wrenching. These are truly special little babies!
I have heard that skin to skin touch is the best thing for any baby. It really makes a lot of sense because babies crave the attention of their parents with any kind of loving touch.
I love this program. I can’t imagine how it would feel to watch my baby fight to stay healthy through a premature birth. I’m glad Huggies is doing something to help parents and babies.
I have always loved Huggies diapers for my babies, and now, they make me feel much better that I chose them, too. Even my grandchildren have Huggies. I think it’s great what they are doing to help our little blessed babies.
Such a wonderful program,those babies are so special indeed.
This is a phenomenal program. Skin to skin contact is so important. Being a hug volunteer must feel so rewarding knowing that you are helping babies and their parents.
It is a special day for special kids. I love this program.
What a special program. My niece was month premature but now she’s a healthy, bright young girl.
This is absolutely a great program! I have a friend who had 2 children, both born prematurely. This is the type of program I would volunteer for. There’s nothing like a baby hug!
I remember when my now 7 year old daughter was under them bili lights. I never took pics of her in the crib but kind of wish I had now.
I love this program! My little sister was born very early (like 3 months early!) and she was in the hospital a while. It was hard for my mom to be there all the time because she had 3 other children to take care of. Wish this program was around then.
My friend had a premature baby and I remember how tiny the diapers were for her. No Baby Unhugged is a fantastic initiative.
What a great way to recognize that prematurity still happens around the world. It even happy to me, as my triplets arrived two weeks early — luckily they had no major problems and came home just a few days after delivery.
Coolest initiative ever! I love this idea. Every baby deserves that love and affection. It’s amazing the healing power of human touch.
What an amazing and special day to celebrate. Those little babies are such fighters and it’s amazing what doctors can do now.
That is a very heartwarming video! I love this program! It helps these babies in so many ways! Love those moms too who participated in this project.
Aw, love the video! This is a great idea and I support it 100%!
Oh my goodness! I would love to volunteer my hugs to those little sweethearts.
God bless all of you. I love this program. I can’t imagine how it would feel to watch my baby fight to stay healthy through a premature birth. I’m glad Huggies is doing something to help parents and babies.