Trust neonatal unit celebrates International Kangaroo Care Awareness Day
Oscar with baby Thea
Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust Neonatal Unit (NNU), at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, recently celebrated Kangaroo Care Awareness Day (15 May) – an annual global celebration started in 2011.
The unit went green to mark the day as well as holding a ‘Kangaroo-a-thon’ to highlight the benefits and importance of skin-to-skin contact for premature and newborn babies. Just one hour of kangaroo care a day can significantly improve brain development and parent-baby bonding.
The ‘Kangaroo-a-thon’ tracked cuddle time for each baby with Baby Thea and her family receiving a fluffy kangaroo and the 1000th quilt from the Haddenham Stitchers. The quilt was extra special as it was chosen to be donated by a stitcher’s grandson, a former neonatal patient.
Oscar Earls, baby Thea’s father said: “The experience of skin-to-skin has really brought us together with our stunning baby girl. It’s certainly helped with bonding and from how well our daughter is doing, we think it’s helped her too. Our care has been excellent, and the kangaroo and quilt will be treasured for a lifetime.”
Georgie with baby Oscar
Georgie Fisher, baby Oscar’s mother said: “My husband and I will be forever grateful to Stoke Mandeville Hospital (SMH) NNU for looking after our little boy during the first week of his life. They are the most supportive, passionate, and caring team we’ve ever dealt with, and made the process as calm as possible alongside guiding us through aspects of being parents to a newborn prior to going home such as bathing and breastfeeding tips. Skin-to-skin is such a special moment between parent and baby and significantly beneficial for baby in their early days. Having a safe space in the unit to do skin-to-skin facilitated that bonding time with our little boy after he was taken to NNU post-caesarean within an hour of being born and provided us both with that reassurance that he was okay. Thank you from the Fishers. Keep doing what you’re doing, you are all incredible.”
Gaynor Tyler, Matron, Neonatal Unit said: “The Neonatal Unit always enjoys celebrating International Kangaroo Care Day – where a parent’s touch is the best ‘medicine’ and the closeness brings strength. These moments of connection are made even more special by the love and care of our incredible volunteers who generously create quilts, blankets and hats that help keep the babies warm and comforted.”
Neonatal team with blankets donated by the Haddenham Stitchers