NICU BONDING HEART WHITE

BONDING HEARTS ARE WORN BY A PARENT, THEN PLACED IN THEIR BABY’S BED IN THE NICU THIS HELPS COMFORT BABIES WITH THE SCENT OF THEIR FAMILY, AND CREATES A CONNECTION EVEN WHEN PARENTS CAN’T BE WITH THEIR BABY, ESPECIALLY DURING COVID 19 RESTRICTIONS HERE IS WHAT A NICU NURSE HAD TO SAY ABOUT THE BONDING HEARTS “THE SENSE OF SMELL IS ONE OF THE EARLIEST SENSES THEY DEVELOP,” SAID AMY LEVIN, A NICU NURSE. “THERE’S INCREDIBLE RESEARCH THAT’S BEEN PUBLISHED THAT THIS CAN HELP INCREASE THAT BOND.” OLFACTORY RECEPTORS DEVELOP IN THE FIRST TRIMESTER, AND STUDIES HAVE SHOWN NEWBORNS CAN RECOGNIZE THEIR MOTHER’S NATURAL SCENT FROM BREATHING AND SWALLOWING HER AMNIOTIC FLUID, WHICH ABSORBS ODORANTS FROM THE MATERNAL DIET, IN UTERO, LEVIN SAID. SHE ADDED THAT THE SENSE OF SMELL IS PROCESSED IN THE PART OF THE BRAIN THAT CONTROLS MEMORY, AND THERE’S EVIDENCE THESE FAMILIAR SCENTS STRENGTHEN THE TIES BETWEEN BABY AND PARENT.! ISN’T THAT AMAZING