A mother’s innovative creation, the Zaky, is making a significant impact on the care of NICU babies.
In 2001, Mia Rodriguez experienced premature labor due to severe preeclampsia, leading to the early arrival of her son, Leo, who was born 12 weeks ahead of schedule and weighed less than two pounds. Leo spent an arduous 155 days in the NICU. Although Mia cherished her time with him each day, the nights away were particularly difficult.
With her background in ergonomics and human factors engineering, Mia sought a way to provide comfort to Leo even when she wasn’t by his side. She designed a bean-filled gardening glove, which she would cuddle with during the day to infuse it with her scent, then place it next to Leo at night. This way, the glove would echo the warmth, feel, and smell of his mother, making him feel less alone.
After Leo’s discharge, a NICU nurse reached out to Mia. “Remember those gloves you made for Leo?” the nurse inquired. “Could you create some for the rest of the babies here?” The staff had observed the comfort that Mia’s gloves provided to Leo and wanted to extend that support to other premature infants. Mia quickly created 100 gloves for the hospital and began researching how to maximize their benefits for preemies, ultimately founding the company Nurtured by Design. Her efforts even earned her a grant from Oprah, propelling her project forward.
For parents of premature infants, learning about apnea and bradycardia becomes second nature, as these conditions often occur together with diminished blood oxygen levels. Apnea involves the baby momentarily stopping breathing, which can lead to bradycardia—a slowed heart rate due to low oxygen levels. Even three years after my own twins left the NICU, the sound of those alarm bells remains vivid. Thankfully, the Zaky glove has been shown to help.
These gloves do more than just offer emotional support. They can aid in self-regulating breathing for preemies, thus reducing the frequency of these alarming episodes. A 2011 study from Georgia College looked at preemies born between 28 and 34 weeks gestation. Those with unscented Zakys experienced a one-third reduction in apnea and bradycardia episodes compared to babies without any comfort items. Remarkably, those who had a Zaky scented by their mothers had zero episodes at all. If only we had access to a Zaky during my twins’ NICU stay; perhaps we would have received fewer distressing calls about their breathing.
Moreover, if your hospital doesn’t currently use the Zaky, you can purchase one for your baby and request a hospital code. Nurtured by Design will then donate a Zaky to your hospital in honor of Leo, who, despite being 15 now, still serves as the company’s Chief Inspiration Officer.
It’s hard not to feel emotional reading about this remarkable story.
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Summary:
Mia Rodriguez, inspired by her own experience in the NICU, invented the Zaky glove to provide comfort and support to premature babies. This innovative product not only helps soothe infants but also assists in self-regulating their breathing, significantly reducing distressing episodes. Parents can even contribute to their local NICUs by donating Zakys, continuing the mission of support and care for vulnerable babies.