This Simple Invention That Mimics A Parent’s Touch Is Saving Preemie Babies’ Lives In The NICU

When mom Yamile Jackson went into premature labor in 2001, her son was born two weeks early and spent 155 days in the NICU. Yamile spent every day at her son’s side, but her heart broke when she had to leave her tiny baby alone each night.

So Yamile, with a PhD in ergonomics and engineering, decided to find a way to comfort her son and make him feel her presence even when she wasn’t there.

Yamile’s bright idea was to fill a gardening glove with dried beans to tuck beside her son every night. She’d cuddle with the glove all day so it had her scent, and, for Zachary, the glove would mimic the smell, warmth, and feel of his mom, even when she was far away.

When Zachary was finally discharged from hospital, Yamile got a call from one of the NICU nurses asking if she’d make the gloves for the rest of the unit. The nurses had seen how comforted Zachary seemed by the glove and wanted to try them on other premature babies in the NICU.

The glove does more than just comfort tiny babies separated from their parents. Mimicking the feel of a parent’s hand, the glove actually helps preemie babies regulate their own breathing, and prevents apnea (stopping breathing) and bradycardia (lowered heart rate).

Inspired, Yamile made 100 Zakys (named after her son) for the unit, before heading out to research and fine-tune her invention, eventually forming the company Nurtured By Design to manufacture Zakys on a larger scale.

A 2011 independent study examined 28-34 week preemies, comparing babies with nothing in their isolettes, babies with Zakys, and babies with Zakys scented by their mothers.

The babies with an unscented Zaky suffered less breathing problems than the babies alone in the isolette, while the babies with a scented Zaky suffered no breathing episodes at all.

Dr Lori of Kentucky University also added: “A lot of tiny babies need to be positioned so that they don’t get frog legs, flat heads, and things like that. We can use [the Zaky] to position them into a nice neutral position.”

Today, Yamile’s son Zachary is a healthy 15-year-old and named as the CIO (that’s Chief Inspiration Officer!) of Nurtured By Design, a company that’s helping preemie babies across America.

The company hope to get Zakys into all NICU units, and gift hospitals a free Zaky every time a mom purchases one for her child in the NICU.

Such a simple, but life-saving, invention — powered and inspired by a mother’s love.

To find out more about Zakys, head to the Nurtured By Design website.

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