2010 - Mater Mother's Hospital

The 2010 recipient of the Lexus Owner’s Gift is the Mater Mother's Hospital.

Lexus Owner’s Gift has donated four overhead heaters for the Mater birth suites. Mobile overhead baby heaters are used throughout Mater Mother’s Hospitals, particularly in rooms and birthing suites where inbuilt baby heaters are not available.      

Babies are not as adaptable as adults to temperature change. When babies are cold-stressed,  they use energy and oxygen to generate warmth. If skin temperature drops just one degree from the ideal 36.5 degrees, a baby’s oxygen use can increase by ten percent.

By keeping babies at optimal temperature with the aid of a baby warmer, they can conserve energy and build up reserves. This is especially important when babies are sick or premature.

Currently there are four mobile overhead baby warmers located in the Mater Mothers’ Hospitals birthing suites. With more than 9500 babies born at Mater Mothers’ Hospitals every year, these overhead warmers make it easier for staff to keep more babies warm during the highly sensitive first eight weeks of life.