As far as swaddling goes in a preemie baby the studies have shown in
developmental care that swaddling reminds the baby of being in the uterus
so whenever the baby moved it hit something as it's in a small space.
Swaddling helps keep the baby calm.  The best option without a doubt is for
the parents to hold the baby.  But when they are not there visiting or the
baby is too sick to be held one of the biggest ways to decrease stress on
the baby is to swaddle them.  When swaddling once places there hands
together and by there mouth so they can suck on their hands if they want
and you also put the heels together skin-to-skin contact...as if the baby
was in the fetal position in utero.  This works very well within the first
month of life.  After that if families wish they may swaddle their baby
when sleeping, but it is stressed to parents that when the baby is awake
they need to unswaddle the baby so it can learn hand-eye coordination,
which is very important in the development of a baby.  Swaddling should be
second place to a parent holding!

As far as the comment earlier that organ donation is required to be
mentioned when someone dies.  Yes, that is correct but only in very
specific cases.  Deaths at home or outside a hospital will rarely if ever
qualify.  Inside the hospital one must meet strict criteria.  Otherwise it
is never mentioned when the criteria are not able to be met.  With this
criteria there is only a small to moderate percentage of cases that qualify
and even fewer families who choose to allow organ donation.  In regards to
cessation of breastmilk on a fetal demise it would be wonderful if
mentioned to all mothers they could express if they wanted too.  But I
believe the success of this program would be in the manner it was presented
to the family.  This is very strongly the case as to whether families of
the deceased will consent for organ donation.

This information has been based on my experience working in the Neonatal
ICU, Pediatric ICU, & Children's E.R. for the past 8 years.

Denise, R.N., IBCLC

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