In a Sydney hospital, an Australian mother named Kate Ogg faced an unimaginable situation. After enduring three hours of labor, she gave birth to twins at just 27 weeks. Her heart was filled with both joy and sorrow as her daughter Emily, weighing 2lbs, came into the world healthy and strong. In contrast, her son Jamie struggled from the start. The doctors tirelessly attempted to resuscitate him for twenty long minutes, but their efforts seemed in vain. In the face of such adversity, Jamie remained unresponsive, and the devastating news was delivered to the shell-shocked parents.

Overwhelmed by the tragic news of her son’s passing, Kate couldn’t come to terms with the reality. Tenderly, she unwrapped Jamie from his blanket and cradled him close to her chest, skin against skin. Kate and David, Jamie’s father, spoke softly to their seemingly lifeless son, whispering his name, introducing his twin sister, Emily, and sharing dreams of the life they had envisioned for him. They held him close, their touches filled with longing and love, for two heart-wrenching hours. And then, like a tiny beacon of hope, Jamie gasped for air. The doctors, however, dismissed it as a mere reflex action.

Undeterred, Kate persisted. As Jamie continued to gasp, she nourished him with her breast milk. And then, the unimaginable happened — Jamie began to breathe on his own. Moments later, he opened his eyes and moved his head. The room fell silent, replaced by a sense of disbelief and joy. The doctors stood stunned and overjoyed, witnessing the miracle they had believed was beyond their reach.

The brave and valiant mother highlighted the importance of skin-on-skin care for sick babies, a trend recently being adopted by many hospitals across the world. It is also known as the Kangaroo Care method adopted from the manner in which kangaroos keep the little ones in their pouch.

This technique allows mothers to act as incubators to keep the new born babies warm and alive. This technique enables mothers to serve as natural incubators, providing warmth and essential contact to their newborns. Such intimate contact reduces the risk of infection and hypothermia, particularly in premature and low-birth-weight infants. Furthermore, the Kangaroo Care method enhances babies’ sleep patterns and can lessen the severity of their illnesses, contributing significantly to their overall health and wellbeing.

The Kangaroo Care method is a scientifically endorsed approach that can regulate a baby’s body temperature more efficiently than traditional incubators. This is particularly beneficial for premature infants who often struggle with maintaining their body heat. The method facilitates a natural heat transfer from mother to baby, creating a warm and comforting environment.

According to a study published in The Lancet by the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, an impressive ninety percent of infants who received Kangaroo Care returned to a normal body temperature within four hours, compared to only sixty percent of those in incubators. Importantly, this technique doesn’t pose a risk of overheating, as any excess heat is safely absorbed by the mother. Beyond newborns, Kangaroo Care is also recommended for older babies to soothe them and promote their developmental growth.

David Ogg expressed profound admiration for his wife, recognizing her warmth and bravery in a situation where many mothers would be understandably overwhelmed by grief.

[sources: Dailymail.co.uk, Newscientist.com]