The Zaky ZAK® for Cesarean Births

For Hospital Evaluation – Cesarean Births

The Zaky ZAK® for Cesarean Births

Safe, Immediate, and Connected Skin-to-Skin Care for Surgical Deliveries

Designed by a PhD in ergonomics and safety engineering and NICU parent, The Zaky ZAK® supports your teams to provide safe, standardized, trauma-informed Skin-to-Skin Care in the OR—without compromising sterile field, monitoring, or workflow.

Why Cesarean Skin-to-Skin Needs an Engineered Solution

Cesarean births present unique challenges for immediate Skin-to-Skin Care. Parents are horizontal, the surgical field is sterile, multiple teams share responsibility, and newborns are at risk of sliding or becoming separated when only towels or blankets are used. Families may also be overwhelmed, medicated, or recovering from major surgery.

The Zaky ZAK® was created so your teams do not have to improvise. It offers a purpose-designed, ergonomically engineered way to support caregiver-led Skin-to-Skin from the Cesarean OR through PACU and postpartum—while maintaining clinical access and respecting safety and fall-prevention policies.

Typical Challenges in the C-Section OR

  • Parent is horizontal with limited mobility and possible sedation.
  • Newborns can slide on gowns, sheets, or blankets when across the chest.
  • Concerns about maintaining sterile field integrity.
  • No standardized method to transfer parent + newborn as a secure unit.
  • High variation between shifts and providers.

How The Zaky ZAK® Addresses These Gaps

  • Creates a soft, adjustable containment system across the chest.
  • Supports airway visibility and neutral head/neck position.
  • Stays outside the sterile field.
  • Allows anesthesia and nursing teams full access to monitoring and procedures.
  • Standardizes immediate and ongoing Skin-to-Skin across OR → PACU → postpartum.
Trauma-informed perspective: Offering immediate Skin-to-Skin can help reduce separation, support regulation, and foster emotional connection during a medically complex birth.

What Is The Zaky ZAK®?

The Zaky ZAK® is an evidence-informed, ergonomically engineered wrap for Skin-to-Skin (Kangaroo) Care that supports newborns approximately 1–15 lbs. Designed for OR, PACU, postpartum, and NICU settings, it provides secure containment, clinical access, and a predictable workflow for staff.

Key Features

  • Soft, adjustable wrap that gently stretches with the pregnant torso and then with the newborn’s weight.
  • Quiet, medical-grade zippers (no Velcro) for low-disturbance access.
  • Supports Skin-to-Skin or can be used over clothing when needed.
  • Maintains containment from OR through PACU and postpartum.
  • Each packaged unit includes: one The Zaky ZAK®, a reusable wash bag for laundering per hospital protocol for infant clothing, and a printed quick-start instruction card.

Size & Color System

Each Zaky ZAK® color corresponds to a torso-size range so staff can identify the fit at a glance. Every ZAK® adjusts across multiple sizes using its zipper system.

  • Four colors → four primary size ranges.
  • Each color-coded ZAK® adjusts across a multi-size span.
  • Fast visual confirmation for nurses, OB, anesthesia, and OR teams.
Important: The Zaky ZAK® supports secure containment and clinical access, and when used in combination with established multidisciplinary best practices, it contributes to a comprehensive fall-prevention approach. It does not replace hospital fall-prevention policies or clinical judgment.

Laundry & Care Protocol

The Zaky ZAK® may be laundered following your institution’s existing protocol for cotton items, such as infant clothing or blankets. No special washing process is required. Always follow your hospital’s infection-prevention and laundry guidelines.

Standardized 4-Step Cesarean OR Workflow

Click below to view or download the workflow diagram.

4-Step Cesarean Workflow Page 1

4-Step Cesarean Workflow Page 2
If the parent is unable to provide Skin-to-Skin Care:
The partner or support person may hold the newborn Skin-to-Skin using another Zaky ZAK®, or hold the newborn clothed, while remaining close to the parent when safely possible.

Safety, Risk Management, and Alignment With Hospital Policies

The Zaky ZAK® was designed with risk-management principles in mind and is intended to be used within existing hospital protocols, not instead of them.

What The Zaky ZAK® Supports

  • Airway Safety: Encourages visible airway and neutral head/neck alignment.
  • Sterile Field Integrity: The ZAK® stays outside the sterile field.
  • Clinical Access: Allows access to legs, torso, and arms via folding or partial unzipping.
  • Fall-Prevention Bundles: Supports containment and standardized handling as part of a multi-factor strategy.
  • Family-Centered Care: Helps reduce separation during a surgical birth.

What The Zaky ZAK® Does Not Do

  • Not a restraint device.
  • Does not replace fall-prevention policies, supervision, or clinical judgment.
  • Does not determine medical readiness for Skin-to-Skin Care.
  • Not for use when the caregiver or newborn does not qualify for Skin-to-Skin Care, according to institutional criteria.
Safety Statement: The Zaky ZAK® supports secure containment and clinical access, and when used in combination with established multidisciplinary best practices, it contributes to a comprehensive fall-prevention approach.

Why Value Analysis Teams Choose The Zaky ZAK®

Clinical & Safety Advantages

  • Standardizes Skin-to-Skin for Cesarean births.
  • Supports airway visibility and physiologic regulation.
  • A purpose-designed alternative to improvised towels or blankets.
  • Smooth integration into OR → PACU → postpartum workflows.

Operational & Experience Advantages

  • Clear, reproducible 4-step workflow.
  • Color-coded sizing reduces errors and saves time.
  • Improves experience and satisfaction for families.
  • Supports institutional goals, including patient experience and Baby-Friendly initiatives.
When hospitals shift from improvised tools to an ergonomically engineered support system, they elevate both safety and family experience—especially during surgical births.

Implementation, Training, and Evaluation

Suggested Pilot Approach

  • Implement for 30–90 days in elective and non-emergent Cesarean births.
  • Gather feedback from OR, PACU, postpartum, OB, anesthesia, and risk management.
  • Track:
    • Rates of immediate or early Skin-to-Skin following Cesarean birth.
    • Workflow acceptability and ease of use.
    • Family experience and satisfaction.
    • Any safety events per hospital protocol.

Training Requirements

  • Brief in-service (≈10 minutes).
  • Use the 4-step workflow diagram and quick-start card.
  • Optional simulation for high-risk or complex cases.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Can the ZAK® be used over clothing?
    Yes, when Skin-to-Skin is not possible.
  • Does it interfere with anesthesia or monitors?
    No. The ZAK® stays outside the sterile field; sensors can be placed away from the newborn’s position per anesthesia preference.
  • How do we choose the size?
    Each ZAK® is color-coded and adjustable across a multi-size range.
  • What if the parent is sedated or unstable?
    Follow institutional criteria. Not for use when the caregiver or newborn does not qualify for Skin-to-Skin Care.

Contact

The Zaky® Team
info@thezaky.com
www.thezaky.com

Clinical and Legal Notice: The information on this page is intended for healthcare professionals and Value Analysis teams. It is not a substitute for medical judgment, institutional policies, or clinical training. Each hospital is responsible for defining its own clinical criteria, supervision requirements, and fall-prevention protocols. Always follow your organization’s guidelines and professional standards.

Click here for The Zaky® Value Proposition for NICU and PICU