1888 - Edith Eleanor McLean became the first baby to be placed in an incubator
This first time I remember seeing an incubator was right after my baby brother was born. He was in one for the first several days of his life after being born with the spinal cord wrapped around his neck. I remember going with my sisters to the hospital, washing our hands really good, and wearing robes over our clothes, and hairnets. The nurse led us into the room, and we took turns reaching in and touching his foot.
I was watching an episode of History Detectives a few months ago. A lady had a silver cup that she had been told was given to her parents at the World's Fair, where she had been on display in an incubator. Through the episode the "Detective" learned that this was how incubators were proven to be beneficial. Apparently the inventor couldn't convince the medical community of the benefits, and offered parents of babies that would have otherwise died to let him display them. Here's an interesting read about it.
I am blessed to have several volumes of personal histories from many of my ancestors. One account tells of a baby that was born prematurely and very tiny. The parents placed the infant in a shoe box near the fireplace.
I am so thankful for the technology of incubators. My brother is now 24 years old and has a baby of his own. He may drive me bonkers sometimes, but I love my brother. I know he wouldn't have lived without being in an incubator for those first few days of his life.
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