By CAROLINE WILSON

WEBCAMS are being used to help parents bond with premature babies.

One of the first studies world-wide in Glasgow found that placing cameras near incubators helped parents develop a closeness with their child as well as helping new mothers recover from the birth and produce breast milk.

Parents were given tablet computers on which video of their infant was streamed.

The mylittleone system is operating in a Scottish hospital, which cannot be named for confidentiality reasons but it is hoped the system could be rolled out.

Parents told researchers at Glasgow Caledonian University that the technology allowed them to,“feel that they were with their baby” even during periods of separation.

It also meant they were able to be more responsive to their babies’ needs – for example, seeing their baby, helped mothers to produce breast milk.

One mother said: “My partner loves it, just being able to see her all the time. “And my mum and dad thought it was a fantastic idea.

“Because our baby’s in neonatal they couldn’t visit her, so it meant they didn’t have to wait to see her.”

Dr Susan Kerr, GCU’s School of Health & Life Sciences, said: “Our study appears to encourage the early bonding process between parents and their babies.

“The study is one of a few world-wide to have evaluated the use of webcam technology in neonatal units.

“Further work is required to assess the cost-effectiveness of webcam technology and also to evaluate its use in the family home following the mother’s discharge from hospital; currently it is only available in the hospital.

“While mothers are commonly discharged after a few days, their premature baby may remain in neonatal care for weeks or even months.

“Webcam access at home could mean the difference between stressful anxiety and peace of mind for new parents.”

However, a small minority in the study reported that the ability to see their baby round the clock heightened their anxiety rather than decreasing it despite the camera being turned off babies underwent an operation or routine procedure.

One mother with a ten-week old premature baby said: “Sometimes they turned the camera off and they would turn it on against and I had a sense of anxiousness that I couldn’t see him.”

The father of a six-week old said: “It’s a double-edged sword using the webca. You can see what’s happening but you don’t always know what’s happening.”

However Dr Kerr said the majority of the 33 parents and 18 professionals involved in the six-month study were positive about the use of webcams.

Around 8 to 12% of babies in the developed world spend their first few weeks in a neonatal unit.