Doctor Welcomes Babies Into the World With the Sweetest Gift
Once the baby's been born and the APGAR has been administered, many doctors congratulate the new parents and head over to the next delivery room. But Dr. Robert Sansonetti sticks around to give his newest patient a special gift. For the last four years, the obstetrician from Scarborough, ME, has knit a cap for every baby he's delivered. A solo practitioner for more than 20 years, Sansonetti started his side project after a Christmas present sparked his interest in the craft. Read on to see his sweet creations!
Source: Dr. Robert Sansonetti
"I bought a book that I thought my teenage children would enjoy called Hat Heads ($18)," Sansonetti says. The book documents one man's journey to create 50 unique hats for his friends. The book, which includes detailed knitting instructions, sent the Sansonetti family on a knitting frenzy.
Source: Dr. Robert Sansonetti
"I started by knitting a small hat in hopes of practicing before trying to knit a larger hat," Sansonetti says. "It turned out pretty well, and by chance was the perfect size for a newborn." The doctor decided to give the practice cap to the next baby he delivered. He recalls the look of surprise and delight on the mother's face, which he says prompted him to knit more miniature hats.
Source: Dr. Robert Sansonetti
Since starting his knitting adventure, Sansonetti has made more than 200 hats, each one taking about four hours to create. Though his job keeps him busy, Sansonetti finds time to knit while waiting for his patients to go into labor. But the gift is more than an act of kindness. It is also a medical necessity, as newborns can lose a lot of heat from their head and need to stay warm. While most hospitals provide hats for that purpose, Sansonetti says his "give the baby a special, unique personality that doesn't seem to shine through with the standard hat." Not to mention, it makes the mothers very happy.
Source: Dr. Robert Sansonetti
"Several grateful patients have even provided me a gift of yarn to allow me to create additional hats for other babies," Sansonetti says. To keep track of his creations, Sansonetti takes a photo of the baby in their new beanie and posts it to his blog. Even as his patient load grows, the doctor plans to continue his tradition.
"It provides a great deal of happiness for me in addition to providing an abundance of joy for the new parents."
Source: Dr. Robert Sansonetti
http://moms.popsugar.com/Doctor-Knits-Hats-Newborn-Babies-34457105#opening-slide
http://moms.popsugar.com/Doctor-Knits-Hats-Newborn-Babies-34457105#opening-slide
