Incredible

Simple toy helps calm premature babies

A SIMPLE toy octopus that replicates the feeling of being inside a womb is being used to calm premature babies at Gold Coast Private Hospital.

Little Carey Jarvis is one of the first premmie bubs in the Special Care Nursery to benefit from the Danish concept, which has been credited with improving breathing and regulation of heartrates due to the tentacles’ likeness to an umbilical cord.

Staff have also reported a reduction in babies pulling out vital cords and tubes, easing pressure on already anxious parents.

Gold Coast Private Hospital maternity services manager Judy Ross said she had embraced the Danish Octo Project after learning of the innovative approach three months ago.

“I don’t know of any other hospitals in Australia doing this,” she said.

“I’m always researching new ideas to introduce to the unit and read an article that said the concept is quite comforting for premature infants. They’ve found the baby feels like they’re holding an umbilical cord so their heartrates lower and their respiratory effort is less.

“They’re also less likely to pull on cords because they’ve got something else to hold. Seeing a baby pull out their nasogastric tube can be quite distressing for parents because we then have to put in another one to feed them.”

For new parents Michelle Carey and Ben Jarvis, the addition of a cuddly octopus to their son’s hospital cot was more than welcome.

“It’s so nice they think of these things,” said Michelle, whose son has called the Special Care Nursery home for six weeks after being born 12 weeks early.

“The tentacles have distracted him from the tubes and everything else he has going on … and now a lot of the tubes have been removed, it’s great for him to have a comfort (in his cot).”

The octopuses have been crafted by the CWA’s Mermaid Beach branch, with members set to meet Carey today when they deliver a fresh batch of the toys to the nursery.

“That makes them even more special,” Michelle said.

“Knowing there are people out there thinking of the likes of Carey going through this is so awesome.”