Providing handmade octopus for neonatal units

Hello My name is Gill and I’ve recently become the grandmother to a premie baby

Whilst in the neo natal unit my granddaughter was given a knitted octopus to hold - on photos I just thought how cute - then I found out the reason behind it .

“octopus for a premmie” was founded in Denmark in 2013 and had since spread across the globe to several other countries

http://www.octopusforapreemie.com/who/

By providing newborn premature babies with a knitted or crochet octopus ( commonly known as an octopal) it is said to replicate the feel of holding the umbilical cord in the womb and also to distract from the tubes and medical equipment around them

therefore the aim of the project is to make sure all babies are provided with one octipal free of charge when admitted on to the neonatal unit

according to bliss ( https://www.bliss.org.uk/)

Every year, over 100,000 babies are cared for in neonatal units in the UK because they have either been born prematurely (before 37 weeks of pregnancy), or full term (after 37 weeks) but sick.

This means that around 1 in 7 babies born in the UK each year are admitted onto neonatal units.

world premature baby day is 17th November 2021

this year I want to show my support x