Supporting a Hospitalized Infant

Woombie Med Pods were created by a nurse and a Child Life Specialist, two women who knew that caring for a hospitalized infant was not only about their phyical needs, but also their psychosocial needs. Woombie Med Pods are empathy-based products that support an infant holistically and meet the needs of staff, family, and patient. 

1. Containment

In order to ease the transition from the womb to the world, a newborn should be swaddled tightly, to mimic the womb. This prevents triggering the moro reflex, causing the sensation the infant is falling, and helps baby feel safe, secure, and comforted. The patented peanut shape allows range of motion in houlders and hips, something a blanket does not. This is the safest, healthiest way to swaddle. 

2. Flexion

A fetus moves up against the walls of the womb inutero similar to a butterfly in a chrysalis. Part of this is just baby being active, but it serves a much bigger purpose which is strengthening its muscles. Woombie Med Pods are made with a signature Bebeflex fabric that provides the stretch and flexion needed to work babies muscles, hopefully preventing physical therapy for the hospitalized infant who is not getting held, moved and stretched as much as a newborn at home would. 

3. Procedural Support

We were not shocked to hear from a clinician at Franciscan Children's Hospital when she shared how amazed she was at the infant who successfully completed an EEG procedure while calmly swaddled in a Woombie Med Pod. Reportedly, the nine month old didn't even cry during a procedure, which typically requires papoosing and ends with both caregiver and baby in tears. Imagine comforting an infant in a Woombie Med Pod during NG tube placement, IV start, heel stick, dressing change or trach suction. They'd feel safe, comforted, and loved, without the neurological stress caused by moro reflex and without having to restrain them.

We KNOW swaddling supports psychosocial care of infants, yet hospitalized infants are often unswaddled because staff needs to access them for medical care. A Q4 vitals check means lots of wrapping and unwrapping, but not if youre using Woombie Med Pods. 

Speak to purchasing department and decision makers on your unit and advocate for change! Make Woombie Med Pods part of your hospitals best practices.