Jessica Templeton with her baby son Andrew who was born prematurely in April (Image: South Eastern HSC Trust) “From the moment you put your baby on your skin and see the heartbeat come down and their oxygen saturation levels improve, it really increases and enhances that bond.” These are the words of Co Down mum, Amber Simpson, whose daughter Esme was born on 3rd March 2024 at 26 weeks. The Ulster Hospital's Neonatal Unit was abuzz with activity and joy this week as parents and staff joined together to celebrate Kangaroo Care Awareness Day, a day dedicated to promoting the benefits of skin-to-skin contact between parents and their premature babies.
READ MORE: Legacy of popular NI midwife lives on with award honouring her memory READ MORE: Meet NI's male midwife who has welcomed countless babies into the world Kangaroo Care, a method where babies are held skin-to-skin on a parent's chest, has been shown to improve infant health outcomes, enhance bonding and support parental mental health. The staff within the Neonatal Unit are strong advocates of this practice, providing guidance and support to parents to ensure they can confidently engage in Kangaroo Care. To mark Kangaroo Care Awareness Day, mums within the unit were gifted ‘goodie bags’ containing items such as a beautiful storybook, a mirror for mums to see their baby’s face during skin-skin contact, some refreshments and a sensory muslin donated by former Neonatal families.
Adding to the celebrations, TinyLife, .