Charity funds new baby warming blankets for NICU cuddles

New warming blankets have been purchased by the N&N Hospitals Charity for babies being treated in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at NNUH.

The Astopad Patient Warming System can be wrapped around babies when they are sleeping in their cots, out for cuddles with their parents, or under phototherapy lights due to jaundice.

The NICU team has been trialling the blanket in recent months and will be purchasing eight to replace the older, less versatile mattresses which are currently being used.

Senior Sister on NICU, Karin Ronen, said: “We will be using the blankets for babies that no longer need the support of incubators and those on our Transitional Care Unit where babies are still relatively small or premature and susceptible to getting cold. Having these blankets often prevents any separation that would happen if small but otherwise healthy babies needed to be placed into incubators in order to maintain their temperatures.”

“The blankets will also enable us to return babies that have required additional support and interventions back to be safely cared for by their mothers at an earlier opportunity.”

Thanks to donations, the hospital charity is purchasing eights blankets at a cost of £2,964.40 each and will replace the less efficient, and less versatile hot mattresses that are becoming obsolete.

Each year, the hospital treats more than 900 sick and premature babies in our NICU – some may be with us for a few months while they grow and become strong enough to go home, others may just need a few days support. Babies born with specific problems may need surgery or complex medical care.

The money you raise helps to pay for the most up-to-date equipment to care for babies, ensuring that staff are able to receive the best training and that parents are supported with the best possible facilities while their baby is in hospital.

For more information about the work of the charity, go to https://nnhospitalscharity.org.uk/