Building Strong Baby Bonds
When babies are born, one of the first things families typically ask is, “When can I see the little one?”
The answer – if the infant must spend some time in NorthBay Medical Center’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit – is: “As soon as I can give you the password to the NicView cameras.”
These special cameras allow parents and family members to check in on the infants as they rest in their isolettes, thanks to live-streaming technology. There are 12 cameras in the NICU, and they can be accessed 24/7/365 using a smartphone, tablet or computer. After signing a consent form, parents are given log-in credentials they may share with other family members or friends near and far. Images are streamed through this secure online portal without sound.
The cameras were an immediate hit with families when they were first installed in 2017, thanks to grant funds from Solano Community Foundation and donations from Cordelia Rotary, as well as the NorthBay Guild.
And, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, appreciation for the advanced technology only grew, said Heather Troutt, NorthBay’s director of Women and Children’s Services.
“The pandemic caused hospitals like NorthBay to establish strict visitation policies, where only the mother and her support person were allowed in the Labor & Delivery wards and the NICU,” Heather explained. “That meant it might be weeks or months before family members could actually meet a little one who needed the NICU.”
In the past year, the cameras were accessed more than 13,000 times, from all over Solano County, throughout the state, the country, and as far away as India, Mexico, Jamaica and Canada.
Thanks to the cameras, military families with someone deployed overseas were able to connect. It has allowed older siblings to begin the vital bonding process. And grandparents who couldn’t travel now have a way to meet the next generation.
“The families have really appreciated being able to access the cameras, so they could see their baby 24/7,” Heather said. “It has given them great peace of mind.”
Find out more about the NicView cameras and NorthBay's Center for Women's Health online or call (707) 646-4100.
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