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Daddy Brad: Recently Dad Labs took a little trip. Our sponsors Bjorn flew us all the way
to Washington, DC to visit the Swedish embassy.
Daddy Clay: We were attending a parent’s conference there, and while we were there
we ran into one of the nation’s leading neo-natologists Al Fanaroff. Dr Fanaroff was
generous enough to sit down and do an interview with the Dad Labs. Now stick around after
the interviews over and leave us a comment – you’ll be automatically entered into
our weekly drawing - this week for a great basket of Baby Bjorn gifts – Baby Bjorn
– European design and dad friendly.
Here we are in the house of Sweden – also known as the Swedish embassy in Washington
DC – our nation’s capital. I’m joined here by one of our nation’s leading neonatologists
– I’m very excited about this interview, Dr Alf Fanaroff, is in from the Rainbow Baby’s
and Children’s Hospital in Cleveland, where he is the chairman in pediatrics and we’re
here to talk a little bit about some of the work that he’s done, in promoting bonding
between parents and babies. Dr Fanaroff thanks a lot for joining me.
Dr Fanaroff: It’s a pleasure
Daddy Clay: So talk a little bit about the benefits, and benefits of physical contact
early on between parents and babies.
Dr Fanaroff: Its extremely important. It’s a tactile stimulus that is enhancing many
aspects. It makes the babies calmer, it enhances their brain growth – it’s no different
to adults. Adults like to be touched, they like to be stroked, babies like to be touched
– they like to be stroked.
Daddy Clay: Can I have a hug right here? Oh thanks, I feel so much better now. But its
important and how are we going to get these dad’s – because I think sometimes, men
are a little hesitant in those first moments right, to hold the baby.
Dr Fanaroff: I think that the modern era – with a lot of material in line, with the introduction
of father’s into the delivery room, they are encouraged to touch and hold their baby
right out of the gate. And I think that the American public have now come to recognize
that its very important that there be a father figure and that the father be intimately involved
with the baby.
Daddy Clay: And a difference can be made just in the first few weeks of life – the amount
of time that’s spent in physical contact. I mean that really can change what’s happening
2, 5, 10 years out cant it?
Dr Fanaroff: It absolutely can and if we equated it to money, there would be exponential growth
in your investment.
Daddy Clay: Is it possible – can you hold a baby too much?
Dr Fanaroff: Parents think that we’re spoiling the baby if we hold them too much. Physically
no harm is going to come to them from holding them too much. Go back to the caves – you
held them all the time, otherwise they were extremely vulnerable. That’s funny; my wife
keeps trying to talk me into moving back into a cave – cheaper to heat or something like
that.
Dr Fanaroff: There ain't no heat in the cave, you’ll need to get back into the animal
skins and that’s environmentally not good.
Daddy Clay: So if you’re going to do two things, two really important things – it’s
got to be breastfeeding and contact in the early days of life of babies.
Dr Fanaroff: Absolutely – you’ve got your MD that’s all you need to know.
Daddy Clay: Now, I’m going to be performing an appandectomy right here on Dr Fanaroff,
so just keep those cameras rolling. I’m not really going to do that – trickiotomy!
It’s a totally different procedure – much simpler.
Thanks a lot, that’s all for us here from the house of Sweden.