Neonatal Product “The Zaky” Significantly Decreases Apnea/Bradycardia

Nov. 8, 2011 - PRLog -- The Regional Medical Center of Central Georgia completed research into the benefits of “The Zaky”; the neonatal device that ergonomically simulates the shape, size, feel, and scent of the parent’s hands and forearms. The research was presented at the 2011 American Public Health Association Annual Meeting in November 2nd in Washington, D.C.  The principal investigators include Kendra Russell, PhD, RN, School of Nursing, Georgia College, Milledgeville, GA; Barbara Weaver, RN,NICU, Medical Center of Central Georgia, Macon, GA; and Robert Vogel, PhD, Professor of Biostatistics, Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA

Nurses at the facility observed many benefits from using The Zakys, which sparked their clinical research. Using a randomized control trial, researchers found that The Zakys significantly improved neurological development of babies in the study.   The 45 babies studied were born at 28-34 weeks of gestation in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) level 3, and included 32 African American, 11 White and 2 Hispanic babies.

“The most important thing that nurses need to take care of is the proper development of the baby’s brain and the uninterrupted relationship with his/her mother,” says Barbara Weaver, RN, NICU, Medical Center of Central Georgia. “The Maternally Scented Zakys Group in our pilot study had zero episodes of life-threatening apnea (stop breathing) and bradycardia (low heart rate) and we saw a significant improvement of self-regulatory behaviors, all these without the need of medication or stimulants.  The Zakys are now part of our new standard of care.”

Nurtured by Design CEO/Founder Yamile Jackson used maternal instinct, personal and professional experience, and her PhD in ergonomics and human factors engineering to help her own son not only to survive a premature birth but to live a healthy life against incredible odds. Zachary, now 10 years old, has served as inspiration behind the design of  “The Zaky” and “Kangaroo Zak” which provide the most complete, useful, and effective developmental care to preemie and healthy newborn babies globally.

“By taking care of the baby's smooth integration to the family and his/her neurological development at birth, at the hospital, and later at home, we are able to improve the family’s quality of life for a lifetime,” says Yamile Jackson, PhD, PE, PMP.   The investigators are requesting funding to replicate the research in multiple facilities and are conducting additional clinical research about the benefits of The Zaky with babies that are born with narcotic dependency, and also its effectiveness during transport.  

For more information about the research, contact Dr. Robert Vogel rvogel@georgiasouthern.edu
For information about Dr. Yamile Jackson, the Zaky or Kangaroo Zaky, visit www.nurturedbydesign.com.

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