The Science - The Zaky

The Zaky ZAK and The Zaky HUG are 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 working on or know of any other(s).

Parent-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.

Neonatal Skin-to-Skin Contact [With The Zaky ZAK]: Implications for Learning and Autonomic Nervous System Function in Infants With Congenital Heart Disease

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

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%

Publication: RCT: Neuroprotective Core Measure 2: Partnering with Families - Effects of a Weighted Maternally-Scented Parental Simulation Device [The Zaky HUG] on Premature Infants in Neonatal Intensive Care

Publication: Randomized Control Trial:

"Neuroprotective Core Measure 2: Partnering with Families - Effects of a Weighted Maternally-Scented Parental Simulation Device [The Zaky HUG] on Premature Infants in Neonatal Intensive Care"

by Kendra Russell, PhD, RN, Barbara Weaver, RN, Robert L. Vogel, Ph.D.

Newborn and Infant Nursing Reviews: Neuroprotection of the Neonate (NICU) Volume 15, Issue 3, September 2015, Pages 97-103

Conclusion:
Neuroprotective supportive care using a weighted maternally-scented parental simulation device [The Zaky HUG] resulted in increased physiologic stability of premature and early term infants through the promotion of self-regulation seen by reduction of stressful behaviors, and decreased apnea, and bradycardia.

Cochrane Library Publication:

Effect of Facilitated Tucking Created with Simulated Hands [The Zaky HUG] on Physiological Pain Indicators during Venipuncture in Premature Infants

by Nayer Salmani, Zohre Karjoo, Khadige Dehghan, Alireza Sadeghnia

Conclusion:
According to the results of the current research, using the simulating glove [The Zaky HUG] to reduce pain during invasive and painful procedures is an effective and easy method for preterm newborns. Therefore, it is recommended that such simulation devices be applied in NICU for pain management, especially when parents of infants refuse to be present during painful procedures."

Iranian journal of neonatology, 2017, 8(4), 7‐12 | added to CENTRAL: 31 October 2018 | 2018 Issue 10

"Sleep is when the brain grows" -- 2 minute video with Dr. Shook.

Experience the science of The Zaky in her NICU.