The “Abbracci di storie” project was launched in 2023 following extensive experience working with families of children who were severely premature or had congenital conditions requiring hospital stays of varying lengths after birth. “Abbracci di storie” promotes the principles of perinatal care—a right for all children, regardless of their health conditions or life expectancy—as well as best daily practices for caring for those who provide care.
About 1 in 10 families comes to CiaoLapo after a stay in the intensive care unit or the neonatal unit;
One in seven families we support during a pregnancy following a bereavement returns to these same wards with their next child.
The time spent in the neonatal unit is always an emotionally intense experience, especially after a previous loss
We must not forget that the first few days after birth are very precious and still offer an opportunity to leave a positive mark on families’ lives: this can only happen if, during the hospital stay, meaningful and nurturing relationships are built between the healthcare providers and the parents, and if holistic care is provided that is so effective as to allow parents—even when they are deeply grieving, frightened, shocked, or confused, to establish a satisfying and responsive bond with their babies.
We are story collectors: since time immemorial, long before the invention of writing and then the printing press, human beings (and more generally, many other mammals and certain birds as well) have used stories to “pass down” from one generation to the next fragments of existence that must not be lost.
Storytelling is a way to strengthen relationships and build connections between people.
For many of us, among our indelible childhood memories, there is that particular nursery rhyme hummed by Grandma, the bedtime story read by Dad, or the first book shared with Mom: Reading is a multisensory experience that deeply engages and envelops us, simultaneously appealing to nearly all of our senses.
We began by considering this point as we structured this project: starting in the fifth month of pregnancy, babies—both boys and girls—develop their sense of hearing and are able to recognize their mother’s and father’s voices, as well as their mother’s scent, among countless other voices and scents.
Amid the sudden chaos of a premature birth or a hospital stay—surrounded by sounds, lights, noises, and so many, many people and so many, many procedures, that familiar voice is the only thing left to hold onto—and the starting point from which to begin exploring the world, especially if you’ve entered it a bit sideways: even we adults, when we’re in an unfamiliar city and don’t know the language everyone is speaking, feel an immediate sense of relief when we recognize familiar sounds.
The same is true for our children: that’s why our voices as parents are such valuable resources, and that’s why we can use them as a gentle compass to guide our children through their hospital stay, no matter how much time we’re able to spend with them.
What is “Abbracci di storie”?
“Hugs of Stories” is a bibliotherapy project designed to promote the well-being of parents and children through the reading of picture books carefully selected from the #albimedicina collection—a selection of health-promoting picture books that Dr. Ravaldi has been curating for nearly fifteen years.
What is the goal of “Abbracci di storie”?
“Hugs of Stories” has two goals:
- Train staff on the benefits of reading aloud and bibliotherapy, so that they, in turn, can provide parents with the support they need to use their voices as a “hug” for their hospitalized children: this simple daily practice—through short tales, stories, nursery rhymes, or songs—“anchors” the child in the here and now, thanks to the familiar and reassuring voice of Mom or Dad;
- to offer parents free access to high-quality picture books— both worded and wordless— with good stories and good illustrations, so that they can enjoy them themselves:Reading good stories triggers a series of cognitive and sensory processes that “reduce” stress and tension just enough to allow parents to take a moment to catch their breath and resume caring for their children in a responsive way—even in challenging situations—without neglecting their own well-being.
What tools does “Abbracci di storie” use?
The “Abbracci di Storie” project uses picture books—both with and without words—storytelling by staff members to parents and by parents to children, and simple stress-reduction techniques.
How does the project work?
The project is funded by the CiaoLapo Foundation and is aimed at neonatal, neonatal pathology, and neonatal intensive care units; each year, there are four live, online sessions offering free training on reading aloud, bibliotherapy, and stress reduction, as well as opportunities to exchange experiences with other departments involved in the project.
Every year, the wards receive 10 picture books as gifts, which the staff select from the #librichefannobene list.
How can I join the project?
We welcome all neonatal, neonatal pathology, and neonatal intensive care units interested in promoting the well-being of parents and newborns and fostering responsiveness through reading!
For more information, please contact us here: abbraccidistorie@ciaolapo.it
