Prone Positioning in the NICU

[nurse_leeny]

Hello. My questions are directed towards NICU nurses, but if anyone can help me, then please feel free. I'm a nursing student doing a project on positioning preemies in the prone position. From my research so far, I've found that most NICU nurses roll up towels or blankets and place them under the baby. Some others use existing positioning aids (filled with gel or cushioning) and fold or roll those up until they do what they want them to do. One question, is there something out there whose specific purpose is to put/hold babies in the prone position? What other methods do NICU nurses use to position preemies prone? What kinds of things would you look for in something that specialized in prone positioning? I've heard about the "knees-to-nipples" and "elbows-to-nipples" concepts; are there any other major concerns when positioning prone? Any comments related to prone positioning of preemies would be welcome. Thank you in advance for all of your help!!!

[ILuvBabies2005]

I am a Student Nurse Assistant in an NICU in Mississippi. Several infants are placed in the prone position in order to assist them with breathing. It is easier for infants to breathe in the prone position. Plus with them being hooked up to monitors, if an apnea spell occurs, nurses are readily available to intervene. My hospital does not focus much on developmental care. Nurses just simply place the infant on the belly and turn the head to one side or the other. The head is turned to the opposite side q3-4hrs with the routine care. Sometimes trochanter rolls are used to keep the infant in place, but not always. I wish I could offer more info, but this is all I know. Hope it helps!