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It’s been a long journey to motherhood for Gabrielle Union — including a diagnosis of adenomyosis and multiple failed in-vitro attempts. But in an Instagram post Thursday afternoon, the 46-year-old shared the joyful news that she and husband Dwyane Wade, a basketball player with the Miami Heat, have welcome a brand-new baby girl via surrogate.
In a picture from the post, Union can be seen holding the new baby to her chest, seemingly to mimic the skin-to-skin contact that usually follows a birth. Although performing the skin-to-skin ritual with a baby delivered via surrogate may seem unusual, studies show that it actually has a number of benefits.
Since then, Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) — as it came to be known — has spread worldwide and is the gold standard for both preemies and full-term infants. In the U.S., the practice is known as skin-to-skin contact and is encouraged by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “This practice has numerous health benefits for both the mother and newborn, including helping initiate breastfeeding, stabilizing glucose levels, and maintaining infant body temperature,” according to the CDC. “Therefore, skin-to-skin care is encouraged immediately after delivery for medically stable mothers and newborns.”
and fathers.”” data-reactid=”30″>The American Academy of Pediatrics, which refers to it as skin-to-skin care (SSC), goes even deeper on the benefits. “SSC also helps stabilize blood glucose concentrations, decreases crying, and provides cardiorespiratory stability, especially in late preterm newborns,” AAP writes. “SSC has been shown in numerous studies as a method to decrease pain in newborns being held by mothers and fathers.”
Although the AAP does not specifically mention performing skin-to-skin contact in Union’s case, multiple surrogacy guides online suggest that it’s an important way for the infant and its parents to bond. Kris Probasco, a clinical social worker who specializes in surrogacy, tells Surrogate.com that it’s a crucial moment. “When a baby is born via surrogacy, an emotional transfer needs to take place from the surrogate family to the intended parents,” says Probasco. “This emotional transfer allows the baby to begin bonding with his or her parents and vice versa.”
Judging by the pictures Union posted, it seems like the bonding has already begun.
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