Evaluation the Effect of Co-Bedding Premature Twin or Multiple Birth Infants on their Growth, Physiological Stability, and Short-Term Prognosis in Nicus

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of co-bedding among premature twin or multiple birth infants on their growth and physiological stability. In this randomized clinical trial, a total number of 80 pairs of premature twin or multiple birth infants hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Shahid Akbar-Abadi Hospital in Tehran, Iran, were randomly allocated into two groups; co-bedded and routine care. The required data were collected through a demographic characteristics information questionnaire and a co-bedding checklist and compared between groups. In the following, data analysis showed that the weight gain and mean of NICU hospitalization days in the co-bedded group were significantly different from those in the standard care infants (P<0.001). However; there was no significant difference in terms of increase in height (P=0.1), head circumference (P=0.4), heart rate (P=0.3), arterial oxygen saturation (P=0.12), and respiratory rate (P=0.68) between groups. It was concluded that co-bedding twin or multiple birth infants could lead to weight gain among them and consequently accelerate their recovery and discharge. Keywords: co-bedding, premature multiple births, neonatal intensive care unit