Mom Reveals The Heartwarming Value Behind Octopus Plushes For Premies

Sep 19, 2023 by apost team

Every parent eagerly anticipates the arrival of their newborn, envisioning cherished moments and joyful milestones. However, for some families, the journey to parenthood takes an unexpected turn as their little ones arrive prematurely, ushering them into a world filled with fear, uncertainty, and a fervent longing for a miracle.

A premature birth is a heart-wrenching ordeal for both parents and infants, and it often necessitates the use of advanced medical technology and life-saving interventions. In the face of such adversity, a small yet remarkable symbol of hope and comfort emerges – the octopus teddies with an important purpose. 

In an Instagram post uploaded on Sept. 12, 2023, one unnamed mom detailed the story of her premature baby's birth and experience at an undisclosed neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) hospital. She explained that Nahla, her newborn daughter, had to be rushed to intensive care as soon as she was born. While under the care of the experts, the baby had this plushy in her incubator.

These soft toys have been skillfully handcrafted by volunteer groups like Octopuses for a Preemie - US. The plushies are designed to mimic the sensation of an umbilical cord with their soft, embracing tentacles. Placed within incubators or cribs alongside preterm infants, they offer a lifeline for these tiny fighters to grasp onto. 

Apparently, babies instinctively hold onto their umbilical cord while nestled in their mother's womb, and these octopus teddies replicate the sensation to perfection. This ingenious design helps prevent infants from inadvertently disturbing their essential cords, monitoring lines, and wires, as they find solace in holding the tentacles instead. When held close to the parent's body, the plushies absorb the scent and carry a piece of the mother or father's presence into the incubator.

The world witnessed approximately 13.4 million babies born prematurely in 2020, according to research. These tiny fighters, born before their time, find themselves in a challenging battle for life. 

While skin-to-skin contact with parents is a cornerstone of newborn bonding, it remains elusive for many premature infants who are too fragile to leave their incubators. This absence of physical connection can be heart-wrenching for parents and detrimental to the infants' well-being, according to the Advances in Neonatal Care. Thankfully, the octopus teddies have emerged to bridge this emotional gap.

The mother went on to talk about the heartbreak she felt knowing she could not be with her fragile baby girl inside the NICU all the time. However, the octopus teddies have been a comforting gift.

"This is to make the teddy smell like you, which will then stay with bub after they're born and go home with them after discharge,” the mother wrote. "So having something like this that would've smelt like me and given her comfort would've improved my mama guilt dramatically by knowing that even though we weren't together, a little piece of me was still right there with her.”

A dedicated team of volunteers tirelessly craft the octopus teddies. Someone in the comments who contributes her time and crochet skills shed light on the rigorous quality control measures in place. She emphasized the existence of "stringent guidelines" pertaining to the choice of yarn and the precise length of the toy's tentacles.

The unique initiative has struck a chord with many parents. Their sentiments echo the regret of not having known about these comforting toys during their own NICU experiences.

"If you know your bub will be born preterm and you've got warning beforehand, you can ask for one of these teddies," the mom advised.

apost.com

Aren't these octopus stuffed animals adorable? They can become a precious keepsake as these NICU infants grow older! Do you know anyone who would find comfort in learning about these infant toys? Tell them about this story and help spread awareness!