
Dr. İlknur Okay from El Bebek Gül Bebek, a parent and patient organization in Türkiye, knows firsthand the emotional challenges of preterm birth. When her twin daughters were born at 30 weeks of pregnancy, she experienced feelings of guilt and loneliness – emotions that many parents of preterm babies can relate to.
As part of Faces of GFCNI, İlknur shares a heartfelt message of reassurance for families and introduces an initiative through which her organization provides practical support for preterm babies in neonatal care.
Drawing on her experience as a mother of preterm twins, İlknur speaks directly to parents of preterm and sick newborns. She addresses feelings of guilt and isolation and reminds families that parent organizations around the world are there to offer support and encouragement.
İlknur introduces an initiative by El Bebek Gül Bebek that provides womb-like positioning nests for preterm babies in incubators. She explains how her organization makes these supports available free of charge to public and university hospitals across Türkiye and discusses their potential benefits for babies’ development.

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