The Science - The Zaky ZAK

Engineering safety procedures for kangaroo care, skin to skin contact.
The Zaky backed by 3+ years of engineering research and product development, and almost 2 decades of providing around the clock nurturing care for preemies, well-babies, and small children. 
These are the independent studies and publications of the groundbreaking results of the studies that have used The Zaky. Please email info@thezaky.com if you are planning, working on, or know of any other(s).

 Parent-Training with Kangaroo Care Impacts Infant Neurophysiological Development & Mother-Infant Neuroendocrine ActivityParent-Training with Kangaroo Care Impacts Infant Neurophysiological Development & Mother-Infant Neuroendocrine Activity

Jillian S. Hardin, Nancy Aaron Jones,  Krystal D. Mize, Melannie Platt

Infant Behavior and Development, Volume 58, February 2020, 101416; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infbeh.2019.101416

Infants were full-term (> 37 weeks GA). Mothers assigned to the Kangaroo Care Group were given a KC wrap (Nurtured by Design's  The Zaky ZAK/Kangaroo Zak)

ABSTRACT
A randomized control trial was conducted to investigate the effects of skin-to-skin, chest-to-chest contact (kangaroo care, KC) in mother-infant dyads on patterns of infant brain activity and associated mother-infant neurohormone releases. 33 mother-infant dyads participated during pregnancy (29–38 weeks gestation), at neonatal and 3-month periods.

Overall, analyses indicated that:
1) infants in the KC group showed left frontal brain activation patterns (asymmetry and coherence) associated with KC training;
2) KC produced moderate to large increases in oxytocin levels; and
3) KC yielded moderate decreases in cortisol reactivity.

Findings suggest KC may garner favorable neuro-maturational and neurobiological outcomes for dyads.

by Tondi M. Harrison, PhD, RN, FAAN , Chao-Ying Chen, PhD, MS, PT , Phyllis Stein, PhD , Roger Brown, PhD , and Jill C. Heathcock, MPT, PhD

The publication that reports the results of Skin to Skin Contact/Kangaroo Care with infants with congenital heart disease is published!

Every mom/baby dyad used The Zaky ZAK (aka Kangaroo Zak) for Skin to Skin contact sessions, and is acknowledged/described in the paper on page 3.

 
Publication: Kangaroo Care Implementation [with The Zaky ZAK] - Quality Improvement Project

Publication: Kangaroo Care Implementation [with The Zaky ZAK] - Quality Improvement Project

The Sobreviver Project (Survive) By Mary Coughlin, RN, MS, NNP, Caring Essentials Collaborative, LLC. Boston.

Newborn and Infant Nursing Reviews Volume 15, Issue 4, December 2015, Pages 169-173

Every mother was provided a The Zaky ZAK (aka Kangaroo Zak) in this Quality Improvement Project and Mary Coughlin, explains why.

"Improving The Frequency And Duration Of Skin To Skin Holding To Promote Parental Confidence In NICU"

by Elizabeth Jeanson PT DPT; Sheri Fischer, MSN RN CBC; Andrea Bunn DNP RN; David Munson, MD; Jessica Schnyders BSN RN; Nate Harris BSN RN

Sanford Improvement Academy selected The Zaky ZAK as part of their Kangaroo Care implementation. Here are the results:

• Parental confidence increased by 62% on the PPCI
• Duration of STS holding increased by 62%
• Frequency of STS holding increased by 26%