Local parents of premature babies are taking advantage of a free healthcare app which provides easily accessible information and real-life content during and after their hospital stay.
The Neonatal Care and Me app helps parents and carers by complementing the high-quality care, help and support they receive in neonatal intensive care units and special care nurseries.
It was designed by local experts to give parents the additional skills and peace of mind at their fingertips so they can learn at their own pace and support their baby.
“It can be used from any location and at any time of the day or night,’’ says the chief executive of South Western Sydney Local Health District, Amanda Larkin.
“It’s part of our commitment to providing the right information to parents and carers at the right time and to further support families during this special time in their child’s growth and development.’
Premature baby Ayaan Dissanayaka, pictured with his mum, arrived into the world three months early, weighing just 1kg.
His mum, Manoshi Wickramasinghe, felt empowered and supported to care for her first-born child thanks to the app.
“I really liked the discharge information because it explains what to do when you take your baby home for the first time, how to bath and cuddle him and position him when he’s sleeping,’’ says Mrs Wickramasinghe, one of the first parents to use the app.
“I also liked the ‘tummy time’ activities to build his strength and the singing and reading sections which focus on his development.
“This app makes a big impact on parents because having a premature baby can feel overwhelming at times.’’
The helpful tool can be used by parents and carers during and after their hospital stay.
It shares real-life content to help people to care for their early bundle of joy including taking baby’s temperature, tube feeding, changing an oxygen probe and tracking age and weight on the growth chart.
Neonatal Care and Me was developed by experienced nursing and allied health clinicians from neonatal intensive care units and special care nurseries at hospitals across South Western Sydney Local Health District.
Professor Josephine Chow, director strategy and partnerships, said the app was developed by the District’s clinical innovation and business unit as part of its innovative accelerate projects and implementation program. It formed a corporate partnership with TATA Consultancy Services (TCS), a global IT services, consulting and business solutions organisation, which created the structure for the app.
Tested by the Miracle Babies Foundation, which supports premature and sick babies, their families and the hospitals that care for them, the Neonatal Care and Me can be downloaded from the App Stores for both Android and iOS devices.
