The Neonatal ward at Helsingborgs Hospital is the first hospital in Sweden with healthy light environments by installing the BioCentric Lighting™ system, mimicking daylight indoors.
Daylight that regulates our diurnal rhythm is important for our well-being and alertness. The sensitive children at the neonatal ward, on contrary, might have another need for light since their biological clock not yet is fully developed.

Their sensitive and immature eyes can’t tolerate, get stressed, by too intense light. The light at the neonatal ward is customized to promote health for the whole family and contribute to well-being for the small children. BrainLit’s light environments with BioCentric Lighting™ is customized for the neonatal ward at Helsingborgs Hospital and developed as part of the pan-European Lighting Metropolis project. It’s an EU-funded project aiming at establishing Greater Copenhagen/Oresundsregion as world leading within the future lighting technology industry. And that by gathering all regional lighting actors, cities and universities in a unique co-creative platform. In the project, BrainLit was working together with Moum Design, WSP, Innovation Skåne and Region Skåne. Broschyr in pdf (Swedish).

In the new ”Light Therapy Room” with the light shower that during daytime is a meeting room, during the night personnel can get a “light shower” to feel more alert.”

Improved light environment for children, personnel and parents

BrainLit's lighting environment improve the care environment and decrease the effect of irregular diurnal rhythm for the parents. BrainLit has in cooperation with experienced researchers and light designers created light environments so parents and children will have a pleasant stay at the neonatal ward. The light environments are developed based on the needs of the children and at the same time creating optimized working conditions for the personnel. The most sensitive children can react differently on the same level of light, and the personnel have control and monitor what's best for the child.
The neonatal care unit is equipped with dynamic lighting provided by BrainLit.
General Lighting protects the child’s sensitive eyes in the incubator while providing clear sight for adults.
Night Light in the room has the similar intensity as a candle light, and inside the incubator it’s almost completely dark.
Ambient Lighting is recommended when the baby is outside the incubator since it does not have any effect on your, nor your child’s circadian rhythm. When using the floor lamp, direct the light onto your face so that your child will learn to recognize you faster.

 

In personnel care situations primarily observation lighting and precision lighting is used.
Observation Lighting is used when staff observes or care for your child. For the smallest babies, this lighting can still be too strong and their eyes might need to be covered. The light levels are still substantially lower than in a normal care ward or in an office.
Precision Lighting is the most intense light and is used during more detailed tasks and during a short time.
The eyes of sensitive babies should be covered even if the child is inside the incubator. The light levels are similar to a normal office.
BrainLit™ products are not intended to be used as a surgical lamp that provides visible illumination of the surgical field or the patient. 

Light recommendations for parents at a neonatal ward.
•When holding your baby, let the light shine on you instead of the child because your child will then learn to recognize you faster
•Getting to know your neonatal child will make it easier to interpret the body language. The staff has been going through special training and will help you with this. Be alert and respond to your child’s body language to secure the right light at the right time.

• If you as a parent spend a long time at the neonatal care unit, try and go outside every day, preferably before lunch. It will then be easier for you to maintain a regular circadian rhythm and you will sleep better during the night.

The light recommendations were created by Anette Velin, assistant nurse and NIDCAP-certified at Helsingborgs Hospital in co-operation with BrainLit’s scientific board, directed by Klas Sjöberg, Chief Physician and Assistant Professor.