How come?

[skybie]

im not sure if this is the right place to put this but im just wondering...

I often see pics of premmie bubs in their incubators on their tummies, how come they do that when the sids guidelines say to not sleep babies on their bellies?
im totally not implying anything or saying its wrong, so please dont think that, i know theres probably a reason for it. just curious as to what that reason is?

[bubno.3]

Good question ..

[RainbowBrite]

They tend to breathe better on their tummy and feel more secure.
They are not worried about the guidelines because bubs are constantly monitored, when bubs comes of the monitors they are then put on there back and all Sids guidelines are followed.
I must say from experience that it is a very hard habit to break though, both of mine where only turn the week before coming home (after 8 and 14 weeks on their tummies).

[blessedatlast]

As above Plus because they are not getting held, or any other tummy time they need to be rotated to prevent pressure areas.. Due to Jett's drains he can't be on his tummy and even though he gets 3hrly head turns his head is still a weird shape. Also if they have fluid retention it pools.. We try to prop him on his side a bit too to prevent that..

[Liz]

Yeah I think it's cos of the monitoring that they don't worry about them being on their tummies. They do feel more secure, and they don't startle like they do on their backs. We were able to swaddle DD tho most of the time.. so long as the monitor could still get to her foot. Her main issue was apnea, so just had the one monitor on her foot.

[Saffy]

everyone is right, when they are in humidicribs they have full monitoring on. If they are having breathing problems and are on oxygen it is better for their breathing on their tummy. Once they are out of the humidicrib they will not be on their tummies at all.
Its a good question skybie!
The parents should be educated on safe sleeping in the scn/nicu too.

[black_rose]

They did it with all my kids and when I asked it was a comfort thing, they settled quicker, and were watched constantly. When dd1 and ds were under the lights for jaundice they were happiest on their tummy. All three sleep on their tummies now.

[Charlotte91]

DD was on her back for the first week (ventilated for 4 days), by the time they'd turned her over her back was dry and peeling from being her her back. They had to rub olive oil on her. It was gross.
BAL, Hannah was turned all the time and she had a weird shaped head for months, we ended up having to use special pillows to try and get her head round rather than flat on both sides.
DD slept on her tummy in RCH, but when she was moved to Bendigo she wasn't monitored so she wasn't allowed to sleep on her tummy anymore.
She's about to turn 1 and she's only just started sleeping on her tummy (mainly because we can't keep her tucked in).

It's a good question and I had to ask when DD was in RCH.

[Little Chicken]

Prem babies are nursed on their tummies purely for the fact it is easier for them to breathe that way. Their chest muscles and their rib cage is not as developed as term babies, so breathing while on their back is actually quite hard work after a while. They are always monitored so SIDS guidelines in this respect does not apply.

[skybie]

thank you ladies, i know that they wouldnt do anything to put any baby in danger obviously, was just curious, makes total sense

[RainbowBrite]

Once they are out of the humidicrib they will not be on their tummies at all. !
The parents should be educated on safe sleeping in the scn/nicu too.

Mine where on their tummies for sometime after coming out of the humidicrib. Maybe some hospitals do things different.
Once the monitors where off they were on there backs and we were given SIDS brochures.

[Little Chicken]

If they are monitored they can go on their tummies, but generally once off monitoring hey should be on their backs

[Janie71]

My sister had a 24 weeker and she said that also do it to try and keep them curled in the fetal position... they are essentially trying to replicate the womb as much as possible.

Janie xxx

[Rach75]

i was going to say the same as everyone else but another thing that got me was jack was released from SCN in a weird UV light suit thing like a bonds suit that is stitched to a uv light for his billirubin (sp?) levels anyway I had to have him on his back for so many hours then onto his tummy without the arms of the suit we had no monitors nothing I was totally freaked about it

[Early Kids]

As above. My boys still sleep on their tummies


Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk - apologies for mistakes.