St Vincent’s Private Hospital birthing teams in Fitzroy are excited to welcome innovative technology that will give mothers visual access to their baby immediately after an uncomplicated caesarean delivery.
BabyCam is a video camera and large television screen that can be set up in a birthing suite to give new mothers a clear view of the first moments of their newborn’s life.
Thanks to BabyCam, new mothers can see the special moments they'd ordinarily miss, from watching the umbilical cord being cut, to their baby’s post-birth checks and the fitting of their little one’s first nappy. This technology allows them be there for every step and also provides a welcome distraction for mothers while their surgery is being finalised.
Creating this instant visual connection has already been shown to help strengthen the connection between mums and their baby.
Dr Fiona Cowell, St Vincent’s Private Obstetrician, performed the first caesarean at St Vincent’s utilising the new BabyCam. “Utilising the camera for the first time to perform a caesarean section was so exciting. Providing my patients with the ability to observe their newborn baby on a screen during the brief period of time as important health checks are being conducted. The bub is then returned to their mum for skin-to-skin care. This not only alleviates their worries, but also enhances their sense of involvement and connection with their new baby whilst enabling me to focus on carrying out the surgery.”
BabyCam has been funded thanks to generous donations from St Vincent’s Foundation donors. Sue Parkes, CEO of St Vincent’s Foundation said, “We are so grateful to our donors for helping to create this special, memorable connection for mothers during such an important moment in their baby’s life.”
Additional funds to expand the project will be raised via the Foundation’s new Special Moments Maternity Wall Campaign.
This campaign is an opportunity for family and friends to celebrate their child's birth. By making a minimum donation of $100, a personalised Special Moment Heart, featuring their baby’s name and date of birth, will be displayed on the Special Moments Wall in the Private Hospital Maternity Ward.
