Seeing NICU Babies Cuddle With Their Moms Will Make You Want to Hold Yours Close

For a handful of mamas at Saint Luke's Hospital in Kansas City, MO, this Mother's Day was extra special. To spend a little quality time with their teeny-tiny babies in the newborn intensive care unit, they shared a skin-to-skin bonding session while nearby photographers captured the precious moments as family keepsakes.

Also called "kangaroo care," this intimate form of bonding involves holding a diapered baby against a bare chest. The practice is known to have various benefits for both the parent (such as stress reduction and increase in breast milk supply) and the newborn (such as weight gain, heart stabilization, and positive brain development), according to the March of Dimes.

Read on to see the sweet-as-can-be snapshots, which are sure to make you want to hold your own child close.