Empower Elle develops a patent‑pending birthing gown and an operating‑room medical device that facilitate uninterrupted skin‑to‑skin contact during both vaginal and cesarean deliveries. By keeping newborns and birthing people together, the products aim to trigger neuro‑biological benefits that improve bonding, attachment, and overall wellness for families and healthcare providers.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
Many births, especially cesarean deliveries, involve separating the newborn from the mother immediately after delivery, interrupting skin‑to‑skin contact that is known to support neuro‑development, bonding, and emotional wellbeing for both parties and the attending staff.
Solution
Empower Elle is creating a patent‑pending birthing gown and a compatible operating‑room device that allow continuous skin‑to‑skin contact throughout vaginal and cesarean births. The gown is designed to be sterile, adjustable, and safe for use on surgical tables, while the device integrates with existing operating‑room equipment to keep the infant on the mother’s chest without compromising surgical access. By maintaining uninterrupted contact, the system aims to trigger the cascade of physiological and psychological benefits associated with early skin‑to‑skin interaction, improving attachment, reducing stress, and enhancing overall wellbeing for mothers, newborns, partners, and healthcare providers.
Target Audience
Primary customers are hospitals, birthing centers, and surgical suites that perform vaginal and cesarean deliveries, as well as obstetric clinicians seeking to enhance maternal‑infant outcomes.
Features
- Sterile, adjustable birthing gown compatible with both vaginal and cesarean procedures
- Integrated operating‑room device that secures the infant on the mother’s chest while preserving surgical access
- Patent‑pending design that meets regulatory and safety standards for use in the operating suite
- Materials and construction optimized for comfort, hygiene, and ease of use by clinical staff
- Enables immediate, uninterrupted skin‑to‑skin contact to promote neuro‑developmental and emotional benefits