Some sights are so compelling, so wonderful, that they are nearly difficult to ignore. One such photograph depicts a little kid assisting his father in warming his two preterm twin sisters. It was originally published on the Danish Facebook group Parents and Birth in Denmark roughly three years ago, but has now been posted again and is gathering traction.

Not long ago, Scandinavian maternity clinics started an unusual new procedure with their newborn patients. In medicine, the “skin-to-skin” approach is used to keep infants warm and comfortable, particularly those born early. Premature newborns are more susceptible to pain because their brains and nervous systems are not completely matured. However, skin-to-skin contact appears to have an analgesic or calming effect, thereby lowering their pain responses.

Also called as “Kangaroo care,” the goal is to provide the newborns with positive, reassuring experiences during a vital stage of their development. The National Institute of Health found that the approach effectively lowers pain in premature newborns. It is argued that this method benefits premature infants by significantly lowering after-birth stress, allowing them to recuperate and grow more quickly.

In recent years, the aforementioned Scandinavian maternity hospitals have achieved excellent success. The survival rate of preterm newborns has lately risen from 30% to an incredible 70%. One photo of this method in use has received a lot of attention online. The image, which was initially shared in the Danish Facebook group Parents and Birth in Denmark, depicts a 5-year-old kid assisting his father in the “skin-to-skin” approach.

Foraeldre og Fødsel has published this press release: TIL PRESSEN: Revolutionary and innovative practice in Uppsala. While one newborn relaxes on his father’s chest, the young child holds the second infant twin on his own. With all of their eyes closed, it appears to be a calm scenario in which everyone is relaxed and enjoying the intimacy and benefits of this post-birth miraculous procedure. The photograph recently resurfaced on the Internet after being shared on the NINO Birth Facebook page.

In the accompanying text, Swedish Professor Uwe Ewald illustrates how kangaroo care works: “Skin to skin contact allows the baby to breathe more easily. The youngster gets calmer and gains weight more quickly. According to research, parents’ bacterial flora, when compared to hospital microorganisms, minimizes the incidence of serious infections in these vulnerable infants. This gorgeous, pure image warms our hearts, as does the simple but successful strategy for parents of premature babies to use.