The very first thing that the baby meets in the hospital is a regular diaper. Wrapping in it for many years was considered almost the only possible option of existence, available for the little one at the very beginning of his life's journey. Not all modern mothers believe that the movements of the crumbs should be fettered with diapers. They are convinced that the position occupied by their child on their own will is most convenient for him. But there are cases when wide swaddling is simply necessary as a medical procedure that facilitates or refracts the course of the disease in infants.
Let's talk about the procedure itself
From the first days of a peanut’s life, swaddling is considered an important component of caring for it. There are many types of this procedure. As a prophylaxis of hip dysplasia, a method for wide swaddling of the newborn is used, in which the peanut can take a physiologically comfortable position. It happens that, not knowing about this method of swaddling and how to properly do it, modern mothers are afraid to apply it to their babies.
Quite often, wide swaddling is confused with free swaddling, when crumbs leave a little space for movements, and the swaddle is not delayed. But there are very important differences between the first method and the last:
- when applying wide swaddling, the baby is wrapped only in the lower body;
- the crumbs' legs should be fixed in a widely divorced position - the legs are bent at the knees and divorced at an angle of 60-80 degrees (this is called a “frog”), which fully corresponds to their natural position; the head of the hip rests all the time against the cavity, thereby helping it to form in the form of a sphere;
- to fix the limbs in this position, a special pad or roller should be placed between them (if free swaddling is used, attributes are not needed).
To help mummies in modern stores there is a significant variety of special devices and holders: a cover, panties for wide swaddling, the Freyk tire (a bandage that is worn on the baby and fastened with straps on the shoulders). Such swaddling can be used from the first days of a crumb's life until it reaches six months. In some cases, the doctor may recommend swaddling for up to a year.
What is dysplasia?
Hip dysplasia is a fairly common disease observed among newborn babies and infants. With dysplasia, abnormal formation of parts of the hip joint and its elements is observed. The acetabulum becomes flatter; ossification of the femoral head takes longer, is delayed in time; the joint capsule loses strength, and the joint ligaments lose elasticity.
These changes do not make it possible to hold the head of the femur well during movements. When moving, it usually slides off the flat surface of the cavity and abuts directly on the joint capsule, which is not able to withstand such a load.
Swaddling Technique
The technique for performing such swaddling is to use a different number of diapers (one, two, or three) and depends on the level of “skill” of the mother, the activity of the baby’s movements, and the time of day. Important information! If you use one diaper in the summer months, the baby will be easier to tolerate the heat, and diaper rash will not occur.
The advantages of such swaddling (and with dysplasia)
We can say that the main diagnosis, in which it is shown a wide swaddling of the newborn, is hip dysplasia (abbreviated as TPA). Among infants, this problem is quite common - out of a thousand peanuts that were born, about 3% have such a diagnosis.
You must understand that TPA is the common name for a number of diseases. Typically, the treatment, which applies wide swaddling, undergoes such ailments:
- immature hip joint;
- congenital predislocation;
- congenital subluxation;
- congenital dislocation (the most severe degree of dysplasia, in which all elements of the joint are affected; the head of the joint may fall out of the joint cavity).
The revealed pathology, in which the necessary measures are not taken to eliminate it, is able to ensure the impaired development of the musculoskeletal system (the baby will walk much later), the gait will be impaired (it is also called “duck”), pain may occur when walking, the spine will bend .
There are several ways to treat TPA: surgical, orthopedic, massage and physiotherapeutic. The swaddling under consideration refers to the orthopedic method and has many advantages:
- easy to execute;
- the use of rigid structures is possible only in the period of late infancy, and at first wide swaddling or sling is permissible;
- thus, surgical intervention can be avoided, since it is applicable when other methods do not work or the proper result is not achieved; after the operation, there may be a difficult postoperative period, and the procedure itself is not always easy.
Learn step by step instructions.
There are several general rules that must be observed:
- Before you begin swaddling, you should make sure that the baby is laid on a flat surface and does not cause anything discomfort under his back. Most often use a changing table or mattress. If they are not, the procedure can be carried out on a regular bed.
- Diapers to choose those that are sewn from natural fabrics. So the skin of the peanut will breathe. Iron the diapers before changing swaddling clothes .
- During swaddling, it is important to observe the temperature regime. To prevent the baby from overheating, under the diaper you can put on socks and sliders - what will be right in this situation: if the baby is put to bed, then the lungs, if it is taken out for a walk, then warm. You should pay attention to whether the mother will carry a baby in her arms. Her warmth will necessarily be transferred to the crumbs, it can become hot for him, he will begin to worry.
Having checked all this, you can proceed to one of the swaddling methods.
Wrap with one diaper
How to make a swaddling swaddle if mommy is still inexperienced? It is better to use only one diaper for now. Usually this method is used at night, when the baby's movements are minimal, or for calm peanuts.
The execution technique is as follows:
- the diaper is folded in four layers;
- the top layer must be folded to form a pocket (triangle);
- the resulting form is turned on the other side;
- the inside with a right angle should be wrapped twice so that a dense strip can be placed in the center;
- put a peanut in the center of the received product;
- wrap its legs with the appropriate corners of the diaper;
- gently push the baby's legs, pass the third (tight) corner of the diaper, and putting on the sliders on the crumb, fix its location.
Wide swaddling of a newborn with dysplasia using only one diaper will be not only simple, but also effective. And it’s convenient for both baby and mom.
Wrap with two diapers
How to make wide swaddling using two diapers? It is precisely their number that is optimal for this procedure. Mom will need diapers with sizes 80 x 20 cm and 80 x 90 cm.
- Fold a large diaper in half with a triangle, spread out, directing down a right angle;
- put a smaller diaper on top, which is folded into two or three layers with a rectangle - it must be placed in the center (like a roller);
- put the baby on the diaper, skip this roller and place it on the tummy between its legs bent and legs apart;
- the legs of the little one should be wrapped in the corresponding corners of the diaper;
- then the right angle of the diaper is threaded and its location is fixed by pulling the sliders.
Thanks to this method, you can save on diapers, changing the roller from time to time.
Wrap with three diapers
So, one more swaddling swaddling. How to do it right? You will need three diapers with the following sizes: 80 x 120 cm, 80 x 0 cm and 80 x 90 cm (you can choose any size).
- Put the largest diaper on the changing table, bend its upper edge 10 cm;
- put on top of it one that has dimensions 80 x 90 cm, folded in half by a triangle - the right angle is directed downward;
- put a roller folded from the third diaper in the center of the second diaper;
- put a peanut on the roller, and thread this roller between its legs;
- the crumbs' legs should be wrapped with the lateral corners of the middle diaper, and its lower angle should be raised between the legs;
- the sides of the first diaper to wrap the chest and tummy area of the peanut;
- point the lower part upwards, wrapping the remaining corners around the baby’s body.
Swaddling with a fastener and panties
Wide swaddling with a clasp - these are more modern technologies. Now, to help mothers, there are wear-resistant fasteners for fabrics on clips or Velcro, significantly reducing the amount of diapers used.
- On a changing table, put a diaper in the shape of a rhombus;
- reduce the side corners towards each other with their center position;
- turn the upper and lower corners slightly towards the center to seal the product;
- put the baby here, between the legs of which pass the lower corner, which is closed by the lateral corners;
- on the sides and the bottom you can put on a fastener to finally fix everything.
Panties for wide swaddling in shape are similar to a regular diaper, and at a price about the same. They assist in the treatment of dysplasia in the baby. During the use of such panties, the baby will be comfortable in the position that they provide.
Swaddle on a diaper and with a pillow
It is convenient enough to swaddle the baby on the diaper. So it will be much easier for a young mother to take care of her baby, since there is no need to constantly wash the diapers.
Consider wide swaddling for hip dysplasia using the Freyk pillow. In form, it is similar to panties for the described procedure. It is distinguished by the fact that inside it has a dense frame capable of fixing the legs of the little one in a divorced position. The pillow is presented in several sizes, so you can choose the right one - depending on how the baby grows. Such a pillow should be worn on a cotton cloth. This device allows the skin to breathe crumbs. It is used around the clock, with the exception of the moments when the baby needs to be bathed.
Weigh the pros and cons
What is wide swaddling (the photo usually displays all the subtleties of this procedure) and why is it necessary for the baby? In recent years, there has been a radical review of the approach to care for children in the first months of life. This also applies to swaddling.
If you put the baby on the back, he will always bend the legs under himself, bending them a little in the knee joints. It has long been established that just such a pose is maximally beneficial for the hip joint to finally form. As soon as mother's hormones are removed from the body of the peanut, immediately the ossification of the femoral head and the strengthening of the articular ligaments begin.
Wide swaddling with dysplasia is not only a good alternative to stirrups in this disease, but will also serve as a prevention for healthy babies. It will be more correct to carry out such procedures before the baby has reached six months.
It must be remembered that prescribing such swaddling is permissible exclusively for an orthopedic surgeon, since far from always there is evidence for this method. Do not use it in such cases:
- if forms of dysplasia are expressed;
- if parents arbitrarily interrupted swaddling, and dysplastic coxarthrosis began;
- if the diagnosis was not made immediately, but only a few months after the birth of a baby;
- if a similar method of treatment has not brought positive changes.
With this course of events, the question of operation is raised.
Duration of treatment with such swaddling
Mom should swaddle her baby so daily. The peanut needs to be with legs spread almost the whole day. Swaddle is allowed for a very short period of time - to bathe, do gymnastics and massage.
The swift effect, which, as a rule, most parents expect, will not be with such swaddling. Moms and dads need to stock up a fair amount of patience and come to terms with the fact that they will be in this regime for many months. In addition, one should not forget that the baby needs to be shown to a pediatric orthopedist from time to time. After all, it is this specialist who has the right to decide on the extension of such treatment or on its abolition. You cannot do this on your own due to the fact that in the future a grown-up child may have serious health problems.