Hospital Volunteer Shows Motherly Love By Holding, Cuddling Babies

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Diane Saville comforts an infant as part of the Baby Buddies program at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston. / On Second Thought

Sunday is Mother's Day, a tough time for some new mothers whose babies are in the neonatal intensive care unit, or NICU. Babies in the NICU are either too small or too sick to go home. Research finds cuddling is important for babies who are born prematurely or have serious health issues, but some parents are unable to stay in the hospital and give their newborns the constant affection they need. A program at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta allows volunteers to hold, cuddle, and rock babies. Producer Linda Chen follows one volunteer during a shift.