Cuddles needed: UNC-Rex seeks volunteers to snuggle newborn babies

The UNC-Rex Birth Center is looking for volunteers for a rewarding job -- cuddling a newborn baby in their neonatal intensive care unit.

Posted 10:36 a.m. Aug 26, 2019 — Updated 6:14 p.m. Aug 27, 2019

Rick Armstrong, producer,

and

Lena Tillett, anchor/reporter

RALEIGH, N.C. — The UNC-Rex Birth Center is looking for volunteers for a rewarding job -- cuddling a newborn baby in their neonatal intensive care unit.

Most newborn babies enjoy a short hospital stay, but not those in intensive care. Doctors say, when a newborn has to stay in the hospital long-term, the cuddles benefit babies, parents and volunteers.

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"A lot of our babies tend to have long periods of stay," said Marie Ambroise Thigpen, a doctor in the UNC-Rex NICU. "If they're born prematurely, they can be here for a couple of months."

New mom Cecelia Williams understands the importance of cuddling her 2-week-old son, Kamari. Kamari has a twin sister, and Williams sometimes has to leave Kamari in the cuddling care of volunteer Kelli Ready.

"This is exciting for me -- to get to come and snuggle babies," said Ready.

Another mom, Jennifer Majure, sometimes leaves her 2-month-old son Wilder with volunteer cuddlers. She's been busy setting up the nursery for his homecoming.

Experts say snuggling and cuddling is vital in the NICU, which can be a stressful environment for babies.

"It's bright and it's noisy...we have to draw blood from them," Thigpen said.

Research supports cuddling as a remedy. Even baby monitors prove that cuddling lowers newborns' heart rates.

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"It decreases pain, it decreases the baby's stress and it helps promote healing," said Nicole Ross, a registered nurse. "It helps with brain development, and it helps decrease their length of stay."

"I just feel like I've done something great for the babies to hopefully relieve their stress and improve their day," Ready said.

"Knowing that he's in great hands has been a great, tremendous comfort," said Majure.

Volunteers who wish to help with the cuddlers program at the UNC-Rex NICU must go through extensive screenings and training. They ask for applicants to volunteer for least a year elsewhere within the organization to learn the policies and procedures before helping with the delicate newborns. UNC-Rex enlists the help of more than 1,200 volunteers who contribute about 150,000 hours every year in a wide range of roles to support patients and their families. Get more information online.