Co-Bedding

Mira · Sep 20, 2003

Co-bedding with whom?w Mum?Health and safety reasons does not allow it.w twins?so long as the bed is not too small for them or the other twin got no infectious disease,bonding thru co-bedding is allowed her in the UK,they`ve been together for several months in the womb and with the developmental care point of view,Is it not nice to re-create their natural habitat up to the point they are not comfortable with each other anymore?Most of our developmental care knowledge came from the USA,and some of us follows it religiously:)

cindylouwho · Sep 20, 2003

the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no co-bedding for infants due to suffocation factors.....we used to co-bed but are no longer allowed to....it sends a message to parents that it's ok and we are trying to discourage this due to increase SIDS.......I personally think it's a neat idea but AAP does not.....oh well

NICU_Nurse, BSN, RN · Sep 20, 2003

Here's an article:

http://www.allenpress.com/jhq/122/122.html

And here's the AAP policy on SIDS prevention:

http://www.aap.org/policy/re9946.html

They don't specifically refer (ie, they don't have a policy so far) to co-bedding of twins/multiples. They do refer to co-sleeping, but it is in regards to parent-infant co-sleeping, not two or more infants together.

I couldn't find a policy specifically on co-bedding of multiples, but the first article does mention the AAP and their position on it as of the date of the article. (Not for, not against, is what I took...could be mistaken, though.)

If your doctors are resistant, why don't you try contacting some of the major NICU's (ie, well-known hospitals who maintain superior standards or rankings) and see if you can get some info from the NICU managers of those facilities? Most places I've spoken to for various issues have been very helpful and willing to fax stuff over to me at their convenience. Try the U.S. News ranking for top pediatric hospitals, hospitals affiliated with top medical schools, and the (I don't remember which) Parenting/Child magazine- what is that one called? It's the big one that everyone reads- sorry, the name is escaping me. They just ranked the top pediatric hospitals as well. Call these places and ask what they do on their units, and if they do it, beg them to fax a copy of their policy over to you to present to your MD's. Most places, with a little flattery, are willing to do this (in my experience, anyway!).

The NANN statement is not for or against- it says they need more research. Unfortunately, there isn't a lot of published research out there on this- it's still a relatively new practice being investigated.

NICU_Nurse, BSN, RN · Sep 20, 2003

Oh, also, I forgot- there is an issue with the monitors picking up the signals from the other baby. Try looking that up- that might be an issue they throw at you as a reason why you shouldn't do it, and you'll need some ammo to combat them on that. I'll try Monday to find more if I can- too tired now.

donnuchi · Sep 22, 2003

I'm sorry I should have specified co-bedding twins in the NICU.

Mira · Sep 22, 2003

There are many issues that the Health and Safety groups are concerned about sp. w regards to SIDS,like giving wrong signal to parents.W co-bedding we usually explain that we are doing it because the nurse is always on guard for any danger that might happen,that we work in shifts etc.We make sure that we are not feeding the wrong baby and we remove the other if one needs medication,each got an apnoea alarm attached.For a reason,most of the doctors I knew of encourages co-bedding.:)

prmenrs, RN · Sep 22, 2003

We actually 'color-code' the babies--mom picks which color for each baby, and every thing gets Avery 'dots' of that color, or marked w/A, B, etc.. down to the binkies. Monitors have dots AND labels. The babies have a stamped label that is op-sited/tegadermed to their thighs w/ the correct dot color on it.

One of the nurses made a snugglie built for 2. The parents LOVE IT! Only problem has ben one twin pulling out sibs ng/feeding tube, and occassionally eye drainage. For eye drainage they get separated and treated, then put back together. For interference issues, we take away their computer priviledges. Just kidding. We can "mitt" their hands and/or turn their heads away from each other.

By the time the Development Committee decided to tackle co-bedding, everyone in the unit pretty much went along with it. Including the attendings and Nursing Management.

There's plenty of literature to support the practice.

Mimi2RN, ASN, RN · Sep 23, 2003

We have a couple of the big isolettes made for two, with doors on both sides. Some of the babies seem to love being together, others are happier apart. We usually keep two isolettes for the twins, so we can separate them sometimes.

I don't like it when one throws up on the sibling, a downside to co-bedding!

kitty29 · Sep 23, 2003

We co-bed the multiples as soon as they are stable...have had no problems with monitors or parent's understanding of why we do it as far as I know.

The SIDS concern and wrong signal is a new one to me.