On World Prematurity Day, we had the opportunity to support the Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care for Newborns and Children at the Sosnowiec Pediatrics Center. World Prematurity Day is celebrated on November 17 each year to raise awareness about premature births and the problems of premature babies and their families worldwide.

It is estimated that about 15 million children worldwide are born prematurely each year, which means one in 10 babies – in Poland the number is about 26,000.

The purple color of the octopus in the photo is a symbol of this holiday – it signifies gentleness and uniqueness.

Why the octopus?

The tentacles of the octopus remind premature babies of the umbilical cord, which they enjoy playing with while in their mother’s belly. When such an octopus is laid next to a baby, it has a sense of closeness, finds familiar shapes, gains a sense of security and adapts faster to the new environment. Holding the tentacles of an octopus in tiny hands, allows the premature baby to better endure the first and most difficult moments outside of mom’s tummy. In addition, it also draws attention away from all the tubes, cables and medical accessories surrounding the baby.

We wish all Premature babies and their families much health and strength!