NICU Scent Hearts and More WA

Join a group of volunteers who meet at the library each month to sew much-needed items for children in Perth hospitals, including PCH.

Their items are keenly sought by hospitals, and they now hold workshops on the third Saturday of each month in the library to encourage more people to join in, and enjoy the camaraderie of sewing together, whilst making items hospitals need.

At this workshop, the group will be making NICU scent hearts. These are pairs of flat hearts in soft fabric used by families with babies in the NICU. Babies in incubators cannot be breastfed or even held, which can be a very stressful situation for both the baby and the family.

One scent heart goes with the baby in the incubator, and the other with the mother against her skin. After 24 hours the hearts are swapped so baby has the mother’s scent, and the mother has the heart with the scent of her baby. Such a simple practice has wonderful effects, including lowering stress for both mother and child and even helping the mother to lactate. These hearts are also called “bonding” hearts, or “developmental” hearts.

All fabric will be supplied.

Participants will need to bring their own sewing machine, thread, scissors and pins.