Game-changing innovation for newborns
Cozy Cuddle Scrubs (by Stacey)™
Skin-to-skin contact for newborns has many benefits. It helps them to adjust to life outside the womb by keeping them warm while regulating heart rate and breathing; encouraging babies to look for breasts to start feeding; and assisting with immediate bonding and emotional connection. For babies delivered by Caesarean Section, receiving skin-to-skin contact can be challenging due to the restricted size of the theatre table. Most women are also uncomfortable trying to do it and it can be unsafe for babies when mums are lying flat. Birth partners are increasingly keen to step in with skin-to-skin contact in the interim and so the newborn is placed on their chest and covered with blankets or towels. That does not always effectively sustain or assist in keeping babies warm, meaning they can be at risk of having to be admitted to special care, while staff often note that a lot of partners feel self-conscious without a top on.
Cozy Cuddle Scrubs (by Stacey)™
While working in theatre at St John’s Hospital in Livingston, Stacey Boyle, an Elective Section Midwife, and Senior Charge Nurse, Marianne Hay of NHS Lothian, began to wonder if there was a better solution. They alighted on the idea of special scrubs for partners with a kangaroo-style pouch to allow vital skin-to-skin contact to take place as soon as the baby is born with the help of cost-effective, upcycled NHS fleeces as a covering material and a secure Velcro opening altered onto new scrubs.
Babies delivered by Elective Caesarean Section can now be carefully placed into the fleece pouch worn by the birth partner while the surgical team focus on the mum and the completion of the procedure. Newborns can nestle inside the scrubs and immediately reap all of the benefits of life-changing skin-to-skin contact.
Innovation Support
Since spring 2024, InnoScot Health worked closely with Stacey and Marianne to realise their ambitions for the innovation to reach hospitals across the UK, possibly even globally, in turn improving neonatal care and outcomes for families.
Alongside NHS Lothian’s Research and Development team, InnoScot Health helped protect and register the design while liaising constantly with the different parties involved to ensure a high level of communication and progress. This means that Cozy Cuddle Scrubs (by Stacey)™ are now well-placed to become more widely available through manufacturing partners.
Impact
Through close collaboration over a matter of months, the original idea has been developed from a prototype into a viable commercial product. InnoScot Health believes Cozy Cuddle Scrubs (by Stacey)™ are a breakthrough innovation and a great example of the value of ideas emerging from within NHS Scotland.
The Kean family from Bathgate have been among the happy families who have used the scrubs. After mum Sarah gave birth to their baby girl Ayla, dad Michael wore them and said: “The scrubs were really comfortable, and it was so easy to secure Ayla in the pouch, keeping her wrapped up and cradled safely.” Sarah said: “It was incredible. Ayla was crying very loudly, but as soon as she was inside the scrubs with Michael, she settled and was very content.”
It’s just been completely a game-changer — an immense support. InnoScot Health helped with all the design registration, the legal aspects. You’ve done all the communication, all the support, sourcing a manufacturer, looking at all the companies that were available. It’s been invaluable. We honestly couldn’t have done it without your professional advice, your knowledge, and all your support. This wouldn’t be where it is now if it wasn’t for you.”
Stacey Boyle, Election Section Midwife, NHS Lothian
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