vCreate Diaries News

Harnessing Recorded Video Technology to Improve Family Wellbeing in the NICU

     

With 1 in 13 babies born prematurely, many families find themselves spending time in the NICU. This is often an extremely stressful time for parents, and particularly so when they are unable to be physically present at the unit, causing many parents to suffer from separation anxiety. This in turn can create challenges with bonding and remote milk expression, as well as causing significant worry and upset to the families involved.

As a secure, recorded video messaging service, vCreate NICU Diaries specifically supports Family Integrated (FI) Care by allowing clinicians to capture and share carefully selected visual updates of special milestones and moments that may otherwise have been missed. This enables families to feel more connected with their babies during this time of high stress, whilst additionally allowing them to involve siblings, grandparents and extended family members with updates.

In 2023, Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, Canada, carried out a study to evaluate the parent and staff experience of using recorded video software in the NICU. They found that the service supports parent-infant bonding, with families reporting increased attachment to their infants and feeling happier and closer to them due to the video-messaging service. One parent shared: “vCreate was amazing and helped me see the great care and bonds my twins were receiving and benefiting from when I couldn’t be there.” 

They also found that the use of the service in the NICU reassured and minimised worry for families, with 100% of parents feeling reassured that their infants were receiving appropriate care.

This in turn helps to improve the bond between parent and baby, reducing separation anxiety for parents and resulting in improved breastmilk expression at home. A 2020 British Medical Journal (BMJ) on the impacts of vCreate reported that “Qualitative responses indicated enhanced emotional closeness, increased involvement in care and a positive effect on breastmilk expression.”

Additionally, the service empowers patient families whilst improving outcomes with additional educational and supportive resources, from advice for NICU parents to tips on taking your baby home from the NICU. 

The service is also available in multiple languages. Families can translate the entire service and all messages with their clinical team to their language of choice, ensuring equity of access and removing translation barriers that would otherwise have a profound impact on families for whom English is not a first language.

If your unit is interested in implementing vCreate in the NICU and looking for funding, your hospital charity might be able to help. Email us if you would like us to send you a fundraising pack.

Carle implements video diaries service to support family engagement in the NICU

     

Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) provide critical care to over 300,000 babies annually across the United States due to a range of birth and health complications. With nearly 15% of all babies born in the US requiring specialist care, thousands of families spend time in the NICU.
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Video to Show What to Expect from your Child’s Follow-up Appointment

     

The neonatal journey doesn't always end at discharge from the neonatal unit. Many families may need to attend follow-up appointments to check their baby’s ongoing growth and development. Parents often feel anxious about attending these appointments and can be unsure about what to expect. Understanding the nature of these appointments and knowing how to prepare beforehand can greatly assist families as they navigate this new phase of their child’s neonatal journey.

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Charitable funding for vCreate in the NICU

     

vCreate NICU Diaries is often funded by amazing charities that support neonatal units. Thanks to the funding from these organisations, our secure video diaries service is used to support family engagement in the NICU and enhance the family experience with videos, photos and messages to keep forever.

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The power of parent voice on the NICU

     

Parents’ voice in the neonatal unit is incredibly powerful. “At a time when they feel helpless and scared, and their parental role is disrupted, there are things they can do that have significant impacts on their child’s health and development,” – Melissa Scala, Neonatologist from Stanford Children’s Hospital

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Overcoming Language Barriers in the NICU

     

The neonatal journey can be a daunting experience for parents, especially when language barriers add another layer of complexity. In such situations, effective communication between clinicians and parents becomes crucial for the well-being of both the baby and the family.

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#ThePowerOfVideo updates in the NICU

     

vCreate NICU Diaries is a secure video service that supports family engagement in the NICU. vCreate enhances the family experience with positive videos, photos and messages to keep forever.

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Parent feedback on the benefits of vCreate

     

Parents who find themselves in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) with their little ones can often find the experience overwhelming. Both Moms and Dads may encounter situations where they are unfamiliar with the procedures, equipment, or medical terminology used in the NICU.

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Collaborative Care: The Impact of vCreate’s Neonatal Therapy and Follow-up Feature

     

The neonatal journey doesn't always end at discharge from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). For many families, it is a continuous process, filled with milestones, challenges, and ongoing monitoring from clinicians, parents, and caregivers.
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Top 25 NICU themed books with author, Sarah Ward, from Reading Through the NICU

     

“The more you read, the more you know. The more you learn, the more places you’ll go.” - Dr. Seuss This World Book Day, we are thrilled to collaborate with author, Sarah Ward from Reading Through the NICU, on a list of the top 25 NICU-themed books.

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Asynchronous video transforms neonatal follow-up care for NHS Scotland

     

Across Scotland, over 6,000 babies are treated in neonatal units (NNUs) every year with many requiring continued, remote care due to ongoing medical issues or to screen for early signs of adverse developmental outcomes.

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Secure video service helps UK baby hospice, Zoë’s Place, keep families connected

     

In the UK, it’s estimated that there are more than 49,000 children living with a life-limiting or life-threatening condition. Often, many of these children and their families turn to children's hospices like Zoë’s Place Baby Hospice for support.

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Paediatric units implement secure video service to keep parents connected with their children

     

In the UK and Republic of Ireland, the paediatric health services support millions of children and their families, with more than 800,000 children under 15 years-old admitted to hospital annually and 20,000 children admitted to Paediatric Intensive Care Units (PICUs) each year.

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St. Boniface Hospital’s NICU implements video diaries service to keep families connected with their babies

     

More than 120,000 babies are treated in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) across Canada every year. With nearly 1 in 12 babies born prematurely, thousands of families spend time in the NICU.

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Video diaries service keeps families connected with their babies in NHS neonatal units

     

There are over 100,000 babies treated in NHS neonatal units (NNUs) each year in the UK, with 1 in 13 babies born prematurely. This can be a hugely stressful time, particularly for parents and caregivers when they are away from the unit.

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New Video to Shed Light on the Neonatal Experience

     

With more than 90,000 premature and poorly babies receiving care in UK neonatal units each year, many families experience a difficult and unexpected journey which they may not have the words to explain.

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Get crafty with your little ones this Autumn!

     

We are starting to feel very autumnal at vCreate! As the leaves turn red and the temperature drops, we’ve been thinking of all the ways families can enjoy this special time of year.

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Support for neonatal families

     

Being on the neonatal unit with your baby can be an overwhelming experience and a rollercoaster of emotions from joy and happiness to worry and exhaustion. If you’re a parent who is currently experiencing the neonatal unit or have in the past, know that there are lots of organisations you can reach out to.

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Get involved this NICU Awareness Month!

     

September is Neonatal Intensive Care Awareness Month, a time when people come together to show their support for families with babies in the neonatal unit.

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The Neonatal Journey Through a Dad's Eyes

     

This International Father’s Mental Health Day, we spoke to Michael, Dad to miracle twin boys, James and Michael, who shared his experiences as a NICU father and the lasting impact it’s had on his mental health.

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