Toms Blog on Life and Livingness
We think of false information as a domestic problem that Trump is in the battle with CNN and the term “fake news” is just political talk. It’s far more dangerous than that. The history books confirm that the Spanish American War was created by the press falsely reporting an attack that never took place.
Seriously wise words! Warning, brought a tear to my eye!
(They still haven’t got it right. They talk about the brain rather than the being but at least they are recognising the merits of love and communication, verbal and tactile.)
The researchers found that overall, premature babies were more likely to have a reduced response to touch than their full-term counterparts. The preemies who had more exposure to painful medical procedures were also more likely to have a reduced response to touch. But preemies who were exposed to what the researchers call “gentle touch” had a stronger response than the preemies who did not receive this contact — and the researchers found that this kind of touch could have positive and long-lasting effects on these babies.
“Our findings add to our understanding that more exposure to these types of supportive touch can actually impact how the brain processes touch, a sense necessary for learning and social-emotional connections,” lead study author Dr. Nathalie Maitre tells Reuters.
In a phone conversation with Babble, Dr. Maitre explains that what the researchers were looking at specifically was “intentional supportive touch,” meaning that the touch had to be from caregivers who were touching the babies as an act of nurturing (i.e., not just diapers changes, feeding, or for other various medical procedures). This included direct skin-to-skin contact.
Dr. Maitre says that “intentional supportive touch,” is “absolutely crucial to babies’ developing brains.” She explains to Babble that for infants, touch is the one of the first senses that develops, before hearing or sight, therefore making it the “building block in early infancy of communication.”
Dr. Maitre, who also happens to be the mom of two boys herself, explains that her study looked primarily at how the power of touch impacts premature babies, but that all babies benefit from it.
“Gentle touch, especially skin on skin, is just one of the most important things parents can do for their babies,” she tells Babble.
In other words: All you new moms and dads out there can breathe a giant sigh of relief — and ignore everything you’ve ever heard about “spoiling” a baby with attention and cuddles. There is just no way to hold a baby too much. Really and truly. No freaking way.
The family of little Antonella believe the beautiful moment happened because she recognised her father’s voice – that of 25 year old Flávio Dantas. Her mother Tarsila Batista told SóNotíciaBoa, “They put her on top of me sleeping and as soon as he spoke to her, Antonella opened her eyes and smiled!”
Flavio talked and played with the baby throughout pregnancy: “He always told her that he loved her so much. Good morning when I went to work, arrived good afternoon, said I’d always be there, kept stroking my belly… And amazingly it always seems at the same time every day she started to move.”
Antonella smiled at the moment she heard the phrase her Dad had always said during pregnancy. Flavio said, “I thought I knew what a feeling of true love was, until I looked at that most sincere smile in the world … it was [there] that I could be sure what love is.”
Flavio is a Brazilian naval soldier, whilst Antonella’s mother, Tarsila, worked in a kiosk as an attendant and then as a cook until her daughter was born. Antonella came to the world at just over 3.1kg and 49 cm in Rio de Janeiro.
She was born on August 11th, which is Father’s Day in Brazil.
Happiness and gratitude are great health precursors.
May you feel watered!