Sew a ‘Snuggly’ for SCBU

NORTH DEVON DISTRICT HOSPITAL Special Care Baby Unit is appealing for those with sewing skills to help parents bond with their babies.

The Special Care Baby Unit is looking for volunteers to help them make ‘snugglies’.

The aim is to give every baby that is cared for on the unit several snugglies, which are small muslin squares that are knotted in one corner, one for the mum and one for the baby.

Snugglie

Muslin snuggly 30 cm x 30 cm

One snuggly is placed in the incubator close to the baby and the other stays close to the parent to pick up their scent. Every few hours they are swapped around so that the baby and the parents share each other’s scent.

Special Care Baby Units across the UK have used snugglies on their wards and have found that it can help the mum and her baby bond, they help the mum to stimulate her milk production and can ease separation anxiety.

Senior Neonatal Staff Nurse & Educator Vikki Baker said “These little squares of muslin make such a difference to our mum’s and their babies.  Having a baby in SCBU can be a very emotional time and it is important that we give our mum’s the very best support we can.”

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Vicki Gallagher of Bideford delivered her twin girls at the North Devon District Hospital in March.  Brioney and Brooke Gallagher were born at only 35 weeks weighing just 1.615 and 1.295 kilograms and then cared for in the Special Care Baby Unit for 21 days. Vicki said “A snuggly is so important as it helps mums and their babies to become familiar with each other’s smell and it is a comfort to hold the snuggly when the babies are in an incubator and it is difficult to hold them when they are so small and fragile.  Having twins was a surprise as there are no twins on my side of the family but I have four other lovely girls who enjoy helping me.”

Over and Above Hospital Charity Fundraiser Julie Whitton said “Our SCBU Unit would be very grateful if volunteers could sew some squares of muslin and tie a knot at one end preferably in pastel colours and either post or bring into the Fundraising Office on Level 2 at North Devon District Hospital, Raleigh Park, Barnstaple, EX31 4JB.   A few minutes of your time will make a big difference to our unit.”

The Special Care Baby Unit also need in pretty pastel colours or prints, flat brush cotton sheets and cot blankets approximately 500 x 900 mm and small knitted bags to put the baby’s keepsakes in such as namebands, BP cuffs, and first footprints so that parents can take all the items home to ensure these special “first items” do not go astray.

The charity’s latest Appeal is to raise £250,000 towards new equipment for the Special Care Baby Unit.  So far, £110,000 has been raised thanks to the generosity of the people of North Devon.

If you would like to give your support to the hospital charity Over and Above Special Care Baby Unit Appeal or one of the many other departments, or if you want to find out more, please visit; www.overandabove.org.uk and the charity’s Facebook page or contact the North Devon District Hospital Fundraising Team on 01271 311772 or email ndht.charity@nhs.net