We missed a pretty important date this week.
It was Kangaroo Care Awareness Day.
Kangaroo cuddles are the cuddles babies (especially pre-term babies) have with their parents. During kangaroo cuddles, there is skin to skin contact between the baby and the parent. This intimate contact helps the baby and the parent develop a deep emotional bond. This is so important when the baby spends most of the time inside a plastic cage.
The length of time for the cuddle depends on the stability of the baby. There were times when Dexter and Lenice had kangaroo cuddles, and Dexter needing a little push in order to remind him to breathe. some of their cuddles were interrupted because Dexter needed to be returned to his incubator.
These cuddles were developed in times and countries where incubators cannot be used.
Eight days old.
It was a very important day for us.
This is what Mum wrote:
When I came back from expressing, your Dad had some great news for me; I was going to get to hold you! I was so happy I burst into tears! I couldn’t believe it. Eight days I have waited to hold you and it was so great! I had you for about half an hour and it was beautiful. I got to hold your head in my hand and kiss your fingers! My goodness, I thought my chest was going to burst with the amount of love I felt for you. You were so well behaved, too and didn’t squirm or set your alarms off. Today was definitely a good day for Mummy!
These were not the first cuddles with Mum.
Dad had to wait 22 days before he could cuddle me. That was a great day.
My first cuddle with Dad didn't last very long,
because the nurses saw I needed to get back into my bed.
My cuddles helped Mum and Dad a lot, too.
This was a long time ago, but it is important to remember these days.
To all the babies in hospital having kangaroo cuddles this week, stay strong. xx
Read about the brain damage detection
My first month
A video of photos
Celebrating Courage - PTSD in NICU parents
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