GIVING BABIES A BETTER START AT MONASH CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL 

By Rebekah McLachlan

A blaring alarm can startle or shock even the most relaxed adult who’s not expecting it. But for a fragile, unwell baby lying in a humidicrib in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), the impact can be far more distressing. 

Of course, alarms are essential for monitoring babies in the NICU – but there are downsides. The exposure to constant loud noises can potentially impact a newborn’s development and hearing. Not to mention cause anxiety for the parents sitting at their child’s side, who are already facing a highly stressful situation. 

Bryley Conley, whose newborn son Masonn was in hospital for a long five months after he was born, remembered experiencing this first-hand.

It’s one reason why Humpty, with the help of its generous donors, is partnering with Monash Newborn at Monash Children’s Hospital in Victoria on two projects that will bring a calmer, quieter experience to parents and bubs undergoing treatment and care in hospitals across Victoria.

The first project is all about looking at ways to reduce noise levels – and create that less stressful environment for premature and critically ill NICU babies. It’s an Australia-first project in partnership with Monash Newborn, Draeger Australia, and Humpty’s generous donors, to fund research and technology to bring the project to life in its first phase. 

These devices have alert messaging, giving parents alerts directly onto a wireless device, which eliminates the need for loud alarms in single-room or single-caregiver situations. 

Along with creating a far less noisy neonatal unit, the ASCOM system also has the potential to improve communication and response times within the NICU team. 

And it’ll will go a long way towards reassuring parents – especially when they’re alone with their bub, added Bryley. “It’s great to know there’ll be a mechanism in place to monitor any issues when the nurse is out of the room,” she said. “It has the potential to ease some of the anxiety and uncertainty parents experience and allow them to concentrate more on bonding with their newborn.” 

Further research on this project has included using sound ears to capture noise levels at the baby’s bedside, as well as doing interviews and surveys with staff and caregivers – and the next phase will look at the impact of the new model of care.

The other big challenge for neonatal units in Victoria is ensuring equipment isn’t old or outdated. After all, when you’re saving the lives of unwell babies, doctors and nurses need to be equipped for every emergency – and have the most modern medical equipment on hand. 

Humpty’s involvement in a second initiative at Monash Children’s Hospital’s facilities includes replacing a fleet of aging resuscitation cots across Clayton, Dandenong, Sandringham and Casey Hospitals. The new lifesaving Resuscitaire cots are vital for newborns experiencing birth complications and can allow for a quicker and more effective response in an emergency. The specialised cots can also reduce the risk of errors during critical moments, say medical staff. 

“It’s so reassuring to know that each room has a Resuscitaire ready – it gives peace of mind to both staff and patients,” said Rachel, a healthcare worker at Monash Health. “For parents, having access to the latest technology can make a world of difference.” 

Bryley, whose complex birth involved son Masonn requiring resuscitation in the delivery room, said it was incredibly comforting to her to know that the medical team had access to cutting-edge equipment during those precarious moments. 

“The delivery room is a critical environment where immediate and effective interventions can profoundly impact the health and wellbeing of your baby,” she said. “And thanks to the presence of modern resuscitation equipment, they were able to deliver the highest standard of care possible for our baby.” 

It’s Humpty’s hope that these projects will have wideranging impacts for babies across Australian hospitals – and give parents and their little ones a better NICU experience overall.