Wavecare
Sensory Delivery Room
Intervention for reducing stress in delivery rooms
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Wavecare
Ambient interventions and Wavecare SDR
Exploring the effects of ambient interventions and welfare technology in healthcare has been the main focus of Wavecare for more than a decade. The result is innovations, studies and research into ways to reduce stress for staff and patients.
Specific combinations of Wavecare audiovisual stimulation have a documented calming effect for people in hospitals by distracting from the artificial and alienating environment.
The Wavecare Sensory Delivery Room (SDR) concept was developed at the request of the Capital Region of Denmark in collaboration with midwives from the OB/GYN Department at North Zealand Hospital, north of Copenhagen, Denmark.
The overriding objective of the healthcare design was to improve the birth experience for the woman/couple and staff based on the knowledge that stress can impede labor and delivery.
Scandinavian Design and future welfare technology
In 2015, the Wavecare SDR system was nominated for the Danish Architectural Lighting Award for best integrated application using both dynamic light, sound and moving images.
Today, Wavecare and its evidence-based design principles are setting precedents for cutting-edge complementary care in hospitals and institutions around the world.
Specific combinations of Wavecare audiovisual stimulation have a documented calming effect for people in hospitals by distracting from the artificial and alienating environment.
The Wavecare Sensory Delivery Room (SDR) concept was developed at the request of the Capital Region of Denmark in collaboration with midwives from the OB/GYN Department at North Zealand Hospital, north of Copenhagen, Denmark.
The overriding objective of the healthcare design was to improve the birth experience for the woman/couple and staff based on the knowledge that stress can impede labor and delivery.
Scandinavian Design and future welfare technology
In 2015, the Wavecare SDR system was nominated for the Danish Architectural Lighting Award for best integrated application using both dynamic light, sound and moving images.
Today, Wavecare and its evidence-based design principles are setting precedents for cutting-edge complementary care in hospitals and institutions around the world.
-easy to install in existing delivery rooms-
The Wavecare SDR is proven effective in
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96% of women reported a positive impact on their feelings of security and well-being.
93% of women reported a very positive impact on the birth experience.
73.5% of women reported a very positive impact on their experience of pain.
Regulated breathing in the wave rhythm was reported as beneficial for optimum contractions.
Delivery speed improved due to the body’s ability to secrete the labor-inducing hormone oxytocin.
High occupancy rates in the delivery wards and several thousand deliveries
conducted using the Wavecare SDR demonstrate a very high stability rate and
more couples chose to give birth in delivery rooms with the Wavecare SDR solution.
93% of women reported a very positive impact on the birth experience.
73.5% of women reported a very positive impact on their experience of pain.
Regulated breathing in the wave rhythm was reported as beneficial for optimum contractions.
Delivery speed improved due to the body’s ability to secrete the labor-inducing hormone oxytocin.
High occupancy rates in the delivery wards and several thousand deliveries
conducted using the Wavecare SDR demonstrate a very high stability rate and
more couples chose to give birth in delivery rooms with the Wavecare SDR solution.
"When you walk into the room, you also enter an atmosphere...in a way the room became a bit more...it was ours"
"The breathing exercises made me feel more in control. I immediately started breathing in the rhythm of the wave"
Workflow and professional integrity for staff
It is a midwife’s job to create a positive delivery experience and bring the woman in labor strengthened through the childbirth process.
An important observation from the midwives using the Wavecare SDR is that they feel more engaged and attentive to the woman in labor.
The midwives involved in the study generally indicate that the Wavecare SDR promotes subsidiary thinking, which increases their sense of professional integrity.
Being a midwife is physically and mentally demanding, with day, night and weekend shifts. However, night shifts with the Wavecare SDR are experienced as less exhausting than night shifts in typical delivery rooms. The night is experienced as more manageable due to the more positive ambiance. Midwives observe that the Wavecare SDR creates a sense of tranquility that helps people relax better. For midwives using the Wavecare SDR, the difference is clear. SDR creates an atmosphere that is much more subdued, calm and reassuring than a typical delivery room.
Benefits for staff
It is a midwife’s job to create a positive delivery experience and bring the woman in labor strengthened through the childbirth process.
An important observation from the midwives using the Wavecare SDR is that they feel more engaged and attentive to the woman in labor.
The midwives involved in the study generally indicate that the Wavecare SDR promotes subsidiary thinking, which increases their sense of professional integrity.
Being a midwife is physically and mentally demanding, with day, night and weekend shifts. However, night shifts with the Wavecare SDR are experienced as less exhausting than night shifts in typical delivery rooms. The night is experienced as more manageable due to the more positive ambiance. Midwives observe that the Wavecare SDR creates a sense of tranquility that helps people relax better. For midwives using the Wavecare SDR, the difference is clear. SDR creates an atmosphere that is much more subdued, calm and reassuring than a typical delivery room.
Benefits for staff
- Improved communication between the woman and the midwife
- Midwives experience night shifts as more tranquil
- Midwives experience increased professional satisfaction/integrity
Intervention with audiovisual stimulation
The elements of the SDR intervention are displayed using a large dynamic light source containing four different themes for the four different stages of labor and delivery. The themes are supported by LED lighting with specially coded light intensity and colors for each audiovisual theme.
An active audiovisual application guides both the midwife and the woman in labor to breath to the rhythm, which stabilizes the contractions. The study shows that using this audiovisual stimulation as active intervention during the cervical dilation phase has a significant impact on pain management.
Midwives observe that the breathing theme has the strongest impact on pain management during the dilation phase, in particular.
Emergency light
During critical procedures, the combination of the ambient light and the work lamp is perceived as sufficient light-intensity for emergency procedures, with the white light as an additional option.
The study also demonstrates that keeping the ambient light during emergency procedures reduces stress levels and enables staff to adjust to the ambience in the delivery room.
The elements of the SDR intervention are displayed using a large dynamic light source containing four different themes for the four different stages of labor and delivery. The themes are supported by LED lighting with specially coded light intensity and colors for each audiovisual theme.
An active audiovisual application guides both the midwife and the woman in labor to breath to the rhythm, which stabilizes the contractions. The study shows that using this audiovisual stimulation as active intervention during the cervical dilation phase has a significant impact on pain management.
Midwives observe that the breathing theme has the strongest impact on pain management during the dilation phase, in particular.
Emergency light
During critical procedures, the combination of the ambient light and the work lamp is perceived as sufficient light-intensity for emergency procedures, with the white light as an additional option.
The study also demonstrates that keeping the ambient light during emergency procedures reduces stress levels and enables staff to adjust to the ambience in the delivery room.
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Subdued and discreet |
The four themes
1 Arrival program: Consists of scenes from a bonfire by a lake and music and nature sound compositions intended to provide a calm and welcoming atmosphere. 2 Breathing exercise program: Helps the woman in labor to maintain a beneficial breathing rhythm during contractions. This rhythm is established via images and sounds of lightly breaking, foamy waves. The midwife can actively use the program to stimulate the regular and smooth respiration. 3 Relaxation program: Consists of various scenes from nature featuring blues, greens and warm colors. The images are accompanied by selected music. The aim of this program is to provide a sense of relaxation and comfort (security) for the woman in labor. 4 Welcome the newborn: Sounds and welcoming scenes from the earth, welcoming and celebrating the positive event. Intervention with audiovisual stimulation. |
The concept
This Wavecare SDR solution is a further improvement on the hardware used during the study, which is based on more than three years of feedback from North Zealand Hospital. Improvements include hightened cleaning standards, rounded corners, more user-friendly interface, additional themes and increased LED resolution to increase the light effects of the themes.
The installation procedures have also been simplified significantly to minimize the construction time and thereby reduce labor costs and the time the room needs to be occupied for installation.
Installation in existing delivery rooms
The Wavecare SDR is designed for existing delivery rooms and can fit in most hospitals with limited installation time and space.
The solution is easy to install and designed for implementation in existing delivery rooms.
This Wavecare SDR solution is a further improvement on the hardware used during the study, which is based on more than three years of feedback from North Zealand Hospital. Improvements include hightened cleaning standards, rounded corners, more user-friendly interface, additional themes and increased LED resolution to increase the light effects of the themes.
The installation procedures have also been simplified significantly to minimize the construction time and thereby reduce labor costs and the time the room needs to be occupied for installation.
Installation in existing delivery rooms
The Wavecare SDR is designed for existing delivery rooms and can fit in most hospitals with limited installation time and space.
The solution is easy to install and designed for implementation in existing delivery rooms.
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Small changes make a huge difference |
Responsibility The delivery process is fairly universal in modern societies across cultures and languages. The Wavecare SDR solution is installed in several hospitals in Denmark and in the Jiangsu Province, China. At Suzhou Municipal Hospital in Suzhou, under the supervision of Dr. Yu and his leading midwives, we are gathering additional user feedback in our commitment to continuous improvements. The Wavecare SDR solution functions in all cultures, as proven by its successful application in Chinese hospitals. With very simple means, you can transform an almost frightening artificial delivery room into a more welcoming and positive space. Please contact Wavecare for additional information, study data or research requests or with any questions regarding installation, prices etc. |
Wavecare ApS · Carl Jacobsens Vej 20,3 · 2500 Valby · Denmark