A Scots midwife has invented a “game-changing” new product that could transform neonatal care and improve outcomes for tiny newborn babies.
Stacey Boyle has created a special set of scrubs for birth partners that have a kangaroo-style pouch to allow vital skin-to-skin contact to take place as soon as a baby is born.
Babies delivered by Caesarean Section can be carefully placed into the sling-like pouch worn by the birth partner while the surgical team focus on the mum and the completion of the procedure.
It means that the baby can nestle inside the scrubs and reap all of the benefits of life-changing skin-to-skin contact.
This has been proven to regulate temperature, stabilise heartbeat, support steady breathing, and even help with early feeding, as well as improve long term health outcomes.
Stacey, 41, came up with the pioneering idea while working in theatre in St John’s Hospital, Livingston, and noticing how challenging skin-to-skin contact was for a mum after childbirth.
She added: “We know how good skin-to-skin can be, but it can also be challenging because of the size of the theatre table. Most women were uncomfortable trying to do it and it can be unsafe for babies when mums are lying flat.
“More and more birth partners were interested in stepping up to do skin-to-skin in the interim, but it meant they would have to take off their scrub tops while the baby was placed on their chest and covered with blankets or towels.
“That doesn’t really sustain or assist in keeping babies warm and a lot of partners felt self-conscious. It was then that I wondered if there was a way for partners to have the skin-to-skin contact without taking off their scrubs.”
Stacey approached her line manager, Marianne Hay and together they turned her idea into reality by helping to design and trial different types of material that would help keep babies at the right temperature.
Marianne said: “We made three different prototypes and we found the most effective design to be one where we used a recycled NHS fleece jacket as the covering material with a secure Velcro opening which was altered onto newly purchased scrubs.
“Our amazing sewing room staff, ward clerkess and laundry staff have been truly amazing in helping us to create this wonderful garment.
“I am so very proud of Stacey for all the work she has done and most importantly for believing in herself to create something that positively helps babies and their families following birth.”
After a huge team effort and lots of positive feedback from patients, Cozy Cuddle Scrubs (by Stacey), was born.
Among those to benefit already is mum Sarah Kean, 28, who gave birth to their baby girl, Ayla, on November 20 this year following a Caesarean Section while dad Michael, 28, wore the scrubs.
Sarah said: “The scrubs Michael wore this time were very different from those at the birth of our two children.
“In our previous procedures, skin to skin contact was not made with our babies until I was in recovery approximately 30 minutes after they had been born.
“It was incredible, Ayla was crying very loudly while her chord was being cut and when she was weighed, but as soon as she was inside the scrubs with Michael, she settled and was very content.
“They were both able to sit next to me whilst my surgery was completed and I was moved into the recovery room, when Michael had to leave the room immediately with the previous scrubs.”
Michael said: “Having that skin-to-skin contact with Ayla was an incredibly magical moment, and it meant so much to be able to stay with her and my wife throughout the entire process.
“The scrubs were really comfortable, and it was so easy to secure Ayla in the pouch, keeping her wrapped up and cradled safely. I would highly recommend them to anyone wanting to create that special bonding moment with their newborn.”
Alison MacDonald, Nurse Director, NHS Lothian, said: “I couldn’t be prouder of Stacey for her innovation and all the teams that have helped bring it to life.
“Her dedication to improving care for newborns and birthing partners is truly inspiring. By creating a solution that allows partners to provide vital skin-to-skin contact, she has taken an important step toward enhancing neonatal care and supporting families in those precious first moments.”
Alongside NHS Lothian’s Research and Development team, formal NHS Scotland partner InnoScot Health helped protect and register the design so it can now become more widely available through manufacturing partners.
Fiona Schaefer, East of Scotland Innovation Manager for InnoScot Health, described it as “a game-changing innovation for promoting skin-to-skin contact with newborns.”
She added: “This is a fantastic example of the value of ideas emerging from within NHS Scotland. The scrubs have the potential to reach hospitals across the UK, and possibly even globally, improving neonatal care and outcomes for families.”
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