Mother saves her 20oz baby with a cuddle

Oh and I've known lots of people who came into this world in a precarious way and/or have had severe problems since then, but the only people (2) I've known who said they wished they were dead were not in this category at all. Humans by nature have a will to live, regardless of their physical make-up.

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SKL, What makes you think parents of babies not expected to make it who do not want any measures performed are not afforded the very same thing this family was given? It all hinges on what care the family requests for their baby. Or in some/most cases, what care the doctors push on the family. But when there really is no hope, and not even comfort care is deemed necessary, a cuddle with Mom and Dad is usually ok.

Also, I never claimed that people, for the most part, would not choose to live. But there are some, who, if asked, wish their parents had chosen differently. I'm glad you are surrounded by people who don't fit this bill.

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Sandyone,
I think we are seeing comfort care as 2 different things. As someone who has watched her FIL die an extremely long and painful death, and also been witness to many of these miracle babies, including my own, I view comfort care as medical measures to make the patient feel no pain at the end of their life. Just to make their passing as comfortable as it possibly can be for them and their loved ones.

Being placed on a Mother's chest is not considered comfort care. It is considered a respect to the parents so they can meet and hold their baby for the first and last time.

And if you had read my first comment, you would know that I know for a fact that fetal-babies can feel pain long before the 26 weeks. Studies be damned. You did, however, hit the nail on the head, when you surmised that it is better not to touch a baby that early because it causes too much pain. The skin of an infant born that early is still very thin, in fact, it is tranparent, and the nerve endings are quite raw.

I agree that a baby should know his Mother's touch. I never disputed that. In fact, I shouted it from the rooftops. If, during the course of our NICU stay, I had been given the devastating news that my son was not going to make it, you can bet your last dollar I would have had him out of his isolette and in my arms, especially if it was during the many weeks I had not been able to hold him yet.

Oh, to answer your original question: comfort care become a moot point if the patient does not survive long enough for the comfort care measures to be instated.

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Michelle, all I am saying is that it (placing the baby on mom's chest if thought NOT viable, just in case) shouldn't only be done if the parents think to request it, but should be recommended by the docs. Because the parents may not have the first clue that this might help, and they will be in a state of mind that clouds their vision. If it was included in the recommended medical procedures in cases like this, it would be more likely to be done. It seems like a completely benign measure that could only have a positive outcome. If nothing else, I think it's clear that the baby, dying or not, would be more comfortable in his/her last moments that way.

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SKL,
If you click on the link in the above story, you will see that it was on the doctors' recommendations that Rachel was placed with her parents for the cuddle in the first place. I also believe I stated earlier, that this is often the practice in cases where parents are not demanding heroic measures, no matter what, and the child is given extremely slim to no chance of survival.

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Michelle, that is not how I read it, but it sounds like we are not really disagreeing in principle at this point.

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Wow, that is awesome. Talk abut the power of skin to skin contact. I think this is so important. I did this with both my babies.

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Wow, that is awesome. Talk abut the power of skin to skin contact. I think this is so important. I did this with both my babies.

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As the mother in question, can I say that the doctors did nothing wrong in refusing to give medical treatment to Rachael. We were warned before she was delivered all about all the problems that she would face if she lived. She was taken away by doctors on delivery and assessed. It was at that point that the medical team came in to discuss her care with us and told us that it would be kinder to let her go instead of giving her intensive care and prolonging her agony. We agreed with them and agreed to let her go. She was brought through in blankets and we were left alone. If the medical profession did anything wrong, it was not letting me have kangaroo care or suggesting it. It was when we were alone that I removed her myself from her blankets and placed her on my chest. This was done out of pure instinct without any thought of whether I was hurting her or not.
And yes, we did have a long hard fight ahead of us after she was given this second chance. I wasn't able to hold her again until she was 6 weeks old and she was very unstable for a long time. We have overcome many obstacles like ROP, oxygen therapy, brain bleeds and PDA btu I'm pleased to say that she is doing superb now. She has good vision, can hear and respond, is gurgling and smiling and has no obvious preemie-like problems. The only hurdle we have yet to cross is CP which will not have presented yet but her muscle tone is excellent.
The debate about terminations is a very emotional one. I have always beleived in a womans choice but now vehemently believe that the limit should be lowered to 16 weeks max and only on medical reasons. Rachael is living proof that 24 weekers do survive with very few problems.

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