what is the medical term of this??

Question

i watched this show about these twins who were in the icu and that the doctors put them side by side together and they were much better afterwards. what is it called? co something??

Answer 1

MULTIPLES AND CO-BEDDING

Co-bedding is the term used to describe putting your babies down to sleep together in the same crib. Most parents co-bed their babies for at least part of the time once the babies arrive home. Our girls slept in the same crib for 4 months until they began to disturb each other. Co-bedding for multiple birth babies just seems to make sense and there are some practical reasons to do so.

Some parents of low birth weight (LBW) or preterm multiples wish to co-bed their babies right after birth in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) but not all hospitals have a co-bedding policy. It's a tough call and hospitals have some valid reasons for not co-bedding, not the least of which is that the beds may not be big enough to comfortably accommodate two babies. Thankfully though, some Canadian hospitals are rethinking co-bedding issues and as a result, there could soon be some good news for parents of multiples.

A quick poll of parents with twins regarding their experiences resulted in the following comments regarding the co-bedding of their babies in NICU:

takes less room by your hospital bed, which is important if you are sharing a room;
there seems to be less confusion in the nursery as the staff only has to worry about one bassinet;
helps the babies conserve body heat, regulate their temperatures;
helps the babies settle better as they seem to comfort each other;
one mother felt it helped them get over the trauma of their births as they took comfort in being together once again;
continuity of their being together from the womb;
sometimes babies have been placed in their own bassinet in different nurseries within a hospital setting, making it difficult for the parents to split their time between the two babies and leaving them feeling guilty about whom they were not with. Or the parents would split up to spend time with each baby, thereby not permitting parents to take joy together in their babies;
parents generally felt better themselves that their babies continue to be together, as they were in the womb;
one family reported that one of their sons was too sick. It just wouldn't have worked for them; and
it is very cute in pictures!
Healthcare professionals have some valid concerns regarding co-bedding:
if one (or both) babies are sick and are co-bedded, there could be a mix up with their medications. In separate bassinets, the potential for medication error is minimized;
if only one baby is ill, there could be cross-contamination to the other baby;
if one baby has a birth anomaly, e.g. spina bifida or Downs, it would be better for the babies to be in separate bassinets;
there could be unnecessary exposure of a baby to oxygen;
there could be sleep disturbances which may impact on a baby's ability to become healthier;
bassinets are not large enough to hold two babies;
one baby may interfere with the tubing of the other baby; and
there could be temperature instability between the babies.
There may be a specific time when NICU hospital staff would decide, or it might be hospital policy, not co-bed multiple birth infants. Such a decision occurs when one, or both babies, is ill (usually due to their prematurity) and to be in close proximity might have an adverse affect on one or both of their health, e.g. disturb their sleep, thus impeding healing. In such cases, a co-bedding decision is based on the best possible outcome for each baby.

Once the babies are home, most parents of multiples, have co-bedded their twins (and sometimes triplets or quads) for various ranges of time. What usually brings co-bedding to an end is when one baby or toddler continually disturbs the other, as in one likes his sleep and the other likes to play and may be looking for a playmate. At the end of the day in this scenario, there are at least two cranky babies and two cranky parents, which makes for a very cranky household. The solution = separate beds, maybe even separate bedrooms, and pronto!

Co-bedding at home offers some other distinct advantages for both babies and parents:

the babies usually enjoy being together and will often settle down quicker and more easily. As the babies grow, parents may continue to have their multiples share a room, each in their own beds, because they enjoy being with each other. Don't be surprised to find them sleeping in one bed together when you go to get them up in the morning;
co-bedding cuts down on the amount of laundry with washing only one set of sheets and blankets at a time instead of two or three;
you can go to one spot in the room and attend to a baby while the other still has full visual contact with you;
initially some parents keep one crib upstairs and one downstairs (for the daytime naps). Not having to go up and down the stairs several times a day helps preserve energy levels; and
even parents with triplets have co-bedded their babies, initially lying each baby across the crib. A bonus is easy access to each baby as needed.
If you want your premature or LBW twins co-bedded while they are in the hospital, check out your hospital's policy before you deliver. Ask your attending physician to make the corresponding note in your chart indicating that you want the babies co-bedded if at all possisble. The more often we ask for what we want or need, the more often the hospitals will listen and change will be implemented.

Twins have been accustom to being together in the womb and can possibly miss each other following birth. Twins are known to comfort each other in times of crisis. Also, the heart beat and respirations of one twin can stimulate the other twin, thus possibly decreasing or avoiding apneic and bradycardic spells (decreased breathing or slower heart rates).

Twin peas in a pod



Just as their babies shared the same womb, parents of multiples often want their infants to share the same crib after they leave the hospital. But increasingly, parents want to take the bonding process a step further.

Judy Bildner, clinical nurse specialist and case manager for the Neonatal intensive care unit, says one question families of multiples often ask is, "Why can't my babies sleep together while they're in the hospital?"

That was just the question Pam and Scott Breid of Columbia asked prior to the birth of their twins, Meagan and Jacob, in January. Pam had read about the virtues of "twinning," or "co-bedding," in Twins magazine and planned to co-bed her babies at home.

"I wanted them to get used to each other again since they would be sleeping together at home," Pam explains. "And I'd read that twins do better if they're together."

Babies who are co-bedded are lightly swaddled together in the same blanket in a position that mimics their position in utero, either face to face or spooning one another. Though fairly common in other countries, especially those in Europe, co-bedding is a fairly new practice in the United States. Judy and the nurses in the NICU had heard of co-bedding multiples and even researched the concept prior to the Breid's request. However, without previous experience to draw from and the foreboding possibility of spreading infection, the unit was hesitant to move forward.

The real impetus for implementation came, Judy says, when a team of attending physicians from Cox Health System in Springfield, Mo., visited the unit. Among them was former neonatology fellow Colleen Rose, MD. Dr. Rose shared her experiences with co-bedding and showed pictures of an isolette Cox recently had acquired that was especially designed for co-bedding.

What Judy and others in neonatal management learned from the discussion was that the benefits of co-bedding far outweighed any risk. While infants should remain separated until stable, infection is not cause for major concern. Naturally, infection is more likely to spread from one infant to another the more contact they have, but basic hand washing is the best deterrent to the spread of disease.

On the other hand, research indicates that co-bedded infants tend to have better feeding patterns and thus develop at a faster rate. And, because they help regulate each others' breathing, these infants also present improvements in respiratory control and heart rate. Many premature babies' systems don't regulate properly due to underdeveloped lungs, and they sometimes stop breathing, Judy explains. A sibling's movement can help stimulate the other to breath if one is experiencing such breathing problems. As a result of this stimulation, co-bedded babies spend less time on oxygen.

As one nurse is assigned to the care of each set of multiples, consistency of care and facilitated communication with the family are additional pluses. "The overall results are a decreased length of stay and better, more efficient and cost-effective care," Judy says.

A week and a half after their arrival Ñ with permission from the attending Ñ the Breid twins were placed together in one of the unit's pre-existing beds, making them the first multiples at Children's Hospital to be co-bedded.

Since Meagan and Jacob, three other sets of multiples have been co-bedded in the neonatal unit, including a set of triplets. "The next phase will be littler, sicker babies," Judy says.

The neonatal unit currently is trialing co-bedding isolettes that open up from both sides for easier access to infants, and work is underway to make co-bedding a standard. A quality improvement committee will review the protocol next month.

As for Pam and Scott, whose twins showed immediate improvement after being placed in the same crib, they're just glad their wishes were honored.

"We encourage parents to be involved in their child's plan of care," Judy says. "Parents really need to be a part of the care giving from the beginning, and if they feel strongly about co-bedding, then we'll provide them with that option."

Twins, Triplets and Quadruplets Cuddle, Bond and Grow in Same Bed in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Miller Children's Hospital
Twins, Triplets and Quadruplets Cuddle, Bond and Grow in Same Bed in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Miller Children's Hospital in Long Beach Media Invited to Interview Parents, Physician and View Co-Bedding of Twins, Before Discharge from Hospital on Thursday, Dec. 2, From 10 to 11 a.m.

LONG BEACH, Calif., Dec. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Seal Beach residents Randi and Jason Buell walk into the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Miller Children's Hospital in Long Beach each day to see their twins -- Ryder Blaine and Macie Jade -- cuddling and holding hands. This is possible as a result of an innovative policy that allows twins, triplets and quadruplets to stay in the same crib, enhancing development and bonding.

"As soon as we put Ryder and Macie together we saw an immediate difference," Randi says. "They are more content being together, and we plan on keeping them together when we get home."

"Co-bedding" is one of the many forward-thinking services that the Miller Children's Hospital NICU offers. Multiples can now be put in the same crib, which provides continuity of their being together from the womb and helps the babies conserve body heat to regulate their temperatures, be more content and grow faster.

At 24 weeks, Randi was admitted to the High Risk Unit at Miller Children's Hospital due to shortening of her cervix. After more than eight weeks on bed rest, Randi successfully delivered her twins -- Ryder at 2 pounds, 15 ounces and Macie at 2 pounds, 14 ounces -- on Oct. 29.

"I chose Miller Children's Hospital for its NICU," says Randi. "I knew my twins would need special care and wanted to make sure they were in the best hands."

In addition to co-bedding, Randi has been working with staff to breastfeed her twins since birth. On Dec. 2, Ryder and Macie will go home weighing just over 4 pounds.

* Miller Children's Hospital/Long Beach Memorial was chosen by Fit Pregnancy magazine as one of the country's top 18 places to have a baby.

* Miller Children's is the largest Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties -- treating more than 50 high-risk infants daily.


Directions: Miller Children's Hospital is located on the campus of Long Beach Memorial Medical Center at 2801 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach. Take 405 Freeway, go south on Atlantic for three blocks. Go to Miller Children's information desk and ask the staff to page public relations.

Premature Twins Thrive with a "Rescuing Hug"

By Liz Townsend

Premature babies have a better chance of survival now, due to advances in medical technology and knowledge. But sometimes the best medicine lies not in expensive machines but in the simple touch of another person.

The story of twins Brielle and Kyrie Jackson of Westminster, Massachusetts, made national headlines five years ago and began a revolution in the way multiple-birth babies are treated in their first weeks of life.

Not yet a month old, Brielle was losing her fight for life. Born along with her twin, Kyrie, on October 17, 1995, she weighed only two pounds at birth. While Kyrie, three ounces heavier but much stronger, thrived, Brielle's breathing and heart rate were poor and nothing the doctors at The Medical Center of Central Massachusetts-Memorial tried seemed to make any difference.

On November 12, Brielle's condition worsened dramatically. "She was turning colors," the twins' mother, Heidi Jackson, told the Worcester Telegram & Gazette. "She was getting really worked up. Her heart rate was way up. She was getting hiccups. You could tell she was just completely stressed out."

Nurse Gayle Kasparian, desperately seeking something to help Brielle, remembered hearing about a technique rarely used in America called "double bedding" or "co-bedding." Twins and other multiple-birth babies are put in the same crib, where, like in their mother's womb, they lie close together.

Kasparian put Brielle in the incubator with Kyrie, whom she hadn't seen since birth. To the amazement of everyone, Brielle showed improvement from the first moment she touched her sister.

"[Kasparian] closed the door and Brielle snuggled up to Kyrie and she was just fine," said Jackson, the Telegram & Gazette reported. "She calmed right down. It was immediate. It was absolutely immediate."

Brielle and Kyrie went home with their family just before Christmas, when they were only two months old. When they left the hospital, they each weighed well over five pounds and were considered healthy. "They're doing fantastic," Heidi Jackson told the Telegram & Gazette.

The nation learned about Brielle and Kyrie when a beautiful photograph of Kyrie's arm protectively around her sister, known as the "Rescuing Hug" picture, was published in Reader's Digest and Life magazine in 1996. People were deeply touched by the expression of love between the two tiny sisters and inspired by the healing that can happen with just the warmth of another person.

The conventional thinking of doctors at that time was that tiny preemies should be kept apart so infections couldn't spread. But experts now believe that the threat of infection is minimal, and the benefits of the comfort and security gained by the presence of the baby's twin far outweigh any risks.

"When you consider what these babies have already experienced - - being thrust too early out of the soothing environment of the womb and into the noise, glare and physical discomfort of life in the hospital - - you wonder what added stress is caused by being separated for the first time

from the comfort of the other baby," wrote Patricia Maxwell Malmstrom and Janet Poland in The Art of Parenting Twins. "There is considerable evidence that multiple infants who are co-bedded handle the stress of being hospitalized, and of all the procedures they must endure, better than those who are separated."

Successes in cases such as Brielle and Kyrie's have led to many more hospitals adopting the practice of co-bedding.

Children's Hospital in Columbia, Missouri, first began co-bedding in 1998 when the parents of twins Meagan and Jacob Breid asked that they be placed together. Medical staff at the hospital agreed after reading studies from other hospitals in this country and around the world.

"Research indicates that co-bedded infants tend to have better feeding patterns and thus develop at a faster rate," according to the University of Missouri Health Care web site. "And, because they help regulate each others' breathing, these infants also present improvements in respiratory control and heart rate."

The Breid twins showed immediate improvement, according to the web site. Children's Hospital continues to practice co-bedding.

Marquette General Hospital in Wisconsin also allows parents to choose co-bedding for multiple-birth babies. "Besides being more comfortable, they usually gain weight quicker and maintain body temperature better," said Cindy Ampe, maternal/child nurse manager, according to the hospital's web site.

"We have had nothing but positive feedback from parents who have used co-bedding for their twins."

The Rescuing Hug

The Benefits of Co-Bedding Infant Twins
By Meredith O'Brien
Co-bedding can be wonderfully beneficial for premature infant twins, particularly for sick babies.


When Patty Dilbarian saw her fragile, week-old twins cuddling together in an isolette for the first time, she wept.

"It was awesome," said the Boston area mother. Her fraternal twins Brendan and Sara—who weighed 4 pounds, and 2 pounds 7 ounces respectively when they were born at 31 weeks—were relatively healthy. Sure, they spent the first month of their lives in a Boston neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Brendan had been on a ventilator for a brief period. But at no time after they were born, Dilbarian said, did she ever believe their lives were in serious danger.


So when the staff at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston asked her permission to put the two babies in the same incubator, Dilbarian said she hadn't given the idea much thought. While the benefits of "co-bedding" premature twins have been touted as a growing national trend, particularly for sick babies, when Dilbarian's kids were born in the spring of 1998 not everyone was doing it, especially for preemies like Brendan and Sara who were doing well in the NICU.

That's something 19-year NICU Nurse Gayle Kasparian is hoping to change.

Five years ago, Kasparian unwittingly became involved in a case that melted hearts nationwide when she suggested putting two premature twin girls in the same incubator. Brielle and Kyrie Jackson were born 12 weeks early at a hospital in Worcester, Mass. Brielle weighed 2 pounds and was struggling with a battery of problems ranging from breathing issues and troubling blood-oxygen levels, to heart rate difficulties. Her sister, 2 pounds 3 ounces, was considered the stronger of the two.

When they were a little less than a month old, Brielle had a very difficult day, according to Kasparian. "She was frantic," the nurse recalled, saying that neither she nor the baby's parents could calm Brielle down as her condition worsened and she became increasingly stressed. "To me, all I can tell you is that this baby was trying to tell me something. I just wasn't getting it." So Kasparian thought she'd try a technique she'd heard only a little about: co-bedding premature twins. After the mother gave permission, Kasparian put the two babies together in one incubator, hoping it would do some good.

The rest, as they say, is history.


"Oh, it was instant, it was so instantaneous that day, I thought my equipment was malfunctioning," Kasparian said. ". . . What happened to that baby, it was miraculous. Nothing else worked." Instantly, Brielle calmed down. The two frail babies nestled together. Brielle's breathing regulated to Kyrie's pace. Her blood oxygen levels improved. Her heart rate improved. Simply experiencing Kyrie's touch seemed to make Brielle stronger, Kasparian said.
"The difference is day and night," their mother Heidi Jackson told the Worcester Telegram & Gazette at the time. "She's just less stressed. She likes being with her sister. She's much more comfortable now."

When word got out about the two twins sharing the same incubator and the Telegram & Gazette ran a photo of Kyrie with her arm around Brielle, Kasparian and the Jackson family were besieged with calls. And when the picture—dubbed the "Rescuing Hug" photo—ran in both Life and Reader's Digest, the twins became famous and interest in co-bedding spiked. The photo of the twins, now five, has recently resurfaced on the Internet and in widely circulated e-mails messages, particularly in circles of mothers of twins. (The parents of the Jackson twins, who overrun with requests for interviews, have declined to respond to interview requests.)

During a recent national conference of neonatal nurses, Kasparian and Whalen reported that over the past five years among their co-bedded premature multiples, their staff has observed:

•Decreased number of apnea incidents
•Improved blood-oxygen levels
•Increased weight gain
•Better feeding
•Greater temperature regulation
•Decreased agitation
•Decreased the length of hospital stays and re-admissions
Kasparian is hoping that once their study is complete, more physicians will embrace co-bedding preemie multiples. "Physicians are very analytical," she said. "They have to see proof." There are still many who worry that putting twins together could lead to higher rates of infection and medical errors in medication by mixing up the twins, she said. However Kasparian said that in the time the UMass Memorial NICU has been co-bedding premature twins, there have been no incidents of twin-to-twin infection or medicinal foul-ups.

Given the unique experiences these babies have in utero, Kasparian said, it's only natural to put them together. "They both respond to each other's touch," she said. ". . . Just allowing them to be together, it works."

And while Dilbarian's children weren't in as critical a condition as Brielle, just seeing her twins together brought everyone pleasure. "It made me a lot happier," she said.

I heard of a story of a set of twins girls. One of the twins was not expected to live while the other one was healthy. When a nurse put both babies in the same incubator the healthy twin puts it's arm around the other and the ill twin improved and survived.

Here is their story.

A rescuing hug
This photograph is taken from an article called The Rescuing Hug.
The article details the first week of life of a set of twins. Apparently, each was in its respective incubator, and one was not expected to live. A hospital nurse fought against the hospital rules and placed the babies in one incubator. When they were placed together, the healthier of the two threw an arm over her sister in an endearing embrace. The smaller baby's heart rate stabilized and her temperature rose to normal.
Let us not forget to embrace those whom we love.

Answer 2

The twins effect

Answer 3

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Answer 4

co habitating.