Physiological responses and behavioural organization of very low birth weight infants during swaddled versus traditional weighing

Abstract

Aim: Despite the consequences of neonatal distress and agitation, preterm infants undergo stress owing to weighing procedures. The objective of this study was to enable very low birth weight infants to maintain adequate self-regulation during weighing.

Design: This prospective crossover study utilizes a within-subjects design, where intervention days were compared to control days.

Method: Infants were exposed to both swaddled and unswaddled weighing in an intensive care nursery setting. Nineteen very low birth weight infants were weighed on two consecutive days. Variables of heart rate, respiratory rate and ALPS-Neo score were recorded.

Results: Stress score decreased significantly from 1.65 (pre-weight) to 0.23 (weight measurement) in swaddled-intervention periods; conversely, it increased significantly from 1.26 (pre-weight) to 4.97 (weight measurement) in control periods. During weight measurement, heart and respiratory rate were significantly lower for swaddled-intervention days when compared to control days. Given the significant impact of swaddled weighing in reducing stress, this method can be used as an appropriate weighing procedure in intensive care. This research has no patient or public contribution.

Keywords: behaviour; breastfeeding; clothing; neonate; nursing care; premature infant; vital signs; weights and measures.