No. 114
MYKROH
By : Dia Munoz
Entrant’s location : United Kingdom
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Description
MYKROH explores the relationship between bacteria and future health providing benefits through a cocktail of bacteria transferred at birth by designed artifacts. Newborns delivered by scheduled Cesarean section will go through the bacterial therapy immediately after birth. This transfer will mimic the natural process at a microscopic level that happens at delivery. The allocation happens in a two step process, firstly transferring skin bacteria through a special swaddle top and secondly vaginal fluids (Lactobacilli), through a vaginal pump that will rest on top of the newborn’s face as a face mask.
What did you create?
A Micro-Birthing kit designed to be used prior a scheduled c-section or an emergency c-section to allocate the right set of bacteria in the newborn to set the human microbiome. The bacteria allocation happens in a two step process. First, transferring skin bacteria through a swaddle top that is used in the last trimester of pregnancy. After collecting the bacteria the swaddle is store in a sterile close bag until birth. At birth the swaddle top will be used to wrap the baby allowing skin bacteria from the mother be transfer to the baby to reinforce skin-to-skin contact. Second, a collection of vaginal fluids (Lactobacilli), through a vaginal pump. The vaginal pump is designed to have a sutil pump that is used prior birth in order to get this rich vaginal fluids directly to the baby through a bio-mask(made from hydrogel) that is inside the pump. The bio-mask is placed in the baby's face while its being cleaned and prep for the mother.
Why did you make it?
As the baby squeezes out of the vagina during birth, a rich bacterial transfer is created that not only protects the baby from potentially life-threatening pathogens, but also becomes the basis of our personal microbiome which shapes the future of our health. Due to an increase in Caesarean Sections, all too often babies miss the opportunity of this natural bacterial transfer. Therefore the wrong set of bacteria (from medical tools or air) will colonize the gut first and because we live in an over-medicalized and sterile world missing the payload of good bacteria (from the mother) at birth creates an imbalance of the microbiome biodiversity. As a consequence, threatens our immune system. MYKROH explores how this transfer can be facilitated in a less obstructive, more natural and more intuitive manner to protect the baby’s later life. Newborns delivered by scheduled Cesarean section will go through the bacterial therapy immediately after birth. This transfer will mimic the natural process at a microscopic level that happens at delivery.
How did you make it?
Collaborating with biologist, obstetricians and mothers I was able to design a safe device with proper materials to collect vaginal bacteria and transferred them into a bio medical mask that will only absorb the bacteria collected in order to proceed with a secure microbiome transfer to the baby born via c-section. MYKROH is based on research about the importance on vaginal and skin bacteria at birth setting the immune system for future health. It follows closely research about Vaginal seeding and the technocratic approach to birth. The vaginal pump is 3d printed from bio-resin and adapted to an electrical pump that holds the mask preventing aerobic bacteria to get in. The mask will be bathe by vaginal fluids to complete the transfer. The swaddle is made from organic cotton with a double pattern that fits the pregnant mother (as a top) and the baby (as swaddle).
Your entry’s specification
Micro-birthing kit: Swaddle-top : Organic white cotton Vaginal Pump + Motor : Bio resin ( 5cmx 6cms ) and (8cmx8cm) Hydrogel maks (8cmx8cm)