MMC is the first hospital to introduce wireless monitoring for premature babies
Máxima MC (MMC) is the first hospital to make routine use of the innovative Bambi Belt as part of standard care for premature babies. The wireless sensor belt will now be used as standard for all babies born before 29 weeks of gestation. In doing so, MMC is replacing the traditional adhesive electrodes, which regularly cause skin irritation and distress in this vulnerable group.
Less stress, more closeness
The skin of very premature babies is delicate. Adhesive electrodes can irritate or damage the skin, and the wires can get in the way when a baby lies on them. The Bambi Belt offers a gentler alternative: a soft, flexible strap that monitors heart activity and breathing completely wirelessly, without adhesive electrodes. This puts less strain on the skin and allows the baby to rest more peacefully.
The fact that the system uses no wires or adhesive pads also makes skin-to-skin contact easier and safer. Parents can lift and hold their baby more easily, without worrying about pulling anything loose. That extra closeness provides noticeably more confidence and peace of mind during an already stressful period. Neonatologist Ellen de Kort emphasises the impact on care: “With these babies, we want to avoid any stimulation that isn’t strictly necessary. The Bambi Belt helps us to promote calm and bring parents closer to their child, without compromising on safety and reliability.”
Innovation born at MMC
The widespread use of the Bambi Belt is the result of seventeen years of innovation, research and collaboration. In 2010, Máxima MC, in collaboration with Eindhoven University of Technology, launched PhD research into the first version of the technology: the Smart Jacket. This research was led by neonatologist and professor Prof. Dr Sidarto Bambang Oetomo, who later founded Bambi Medical to further develop the technology into a certified medical device. With the introduction of the Bambi Belt, the technology is now gaining a permanent place in standard care, in the very same hospital where it was first conceived.
The Bambi Belt has been extensively tested in daily practice over the past few months. The results have been positive: the belt is reliable and less stressful for babies. Consequently, the Bambi Belt has recently been adopted as standard practice for newborns born before 29 weeks of gestation. These infants require the most intensive and prolonged monitoring and therefore benefit most from this less stressful form of care.
Leading the way in innovative healthcare for the region
As a NICU, Máxima MC plays a key role in the care of premature babies in the region. The hospital stands out for its strong culture of innovation: new care concepts, medical technology and research projects are not only conceived here, but are also actively developed and implemented. In the Brainport region, known worldwide for high-tech innovation, MMC is the medical link that connects technological knowledge with clinical needs.
The Bambi Belt is a prime example of this. What began at Máxima MC as scientific research was further developed by Bambi Medical into a certified medical product that is now the first of its kind to be permanently installed in incubators. As a result, Máxima MC is strengthening its position as Brainport’s leading maternal and child healthcare centre and as a hospital where medical innovation becomes tangible for patients and parents.