Wide swaddling of a newborn with hip dysplasia: photo, how to do it right?

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

The very first thing a baby meets in the hospital is an ordinary diaper. For many years, wrapping in it was considered almost the only possible option for existence available to a little one at the very beginning of his life path. 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 of their own free will is the most convenient for him. But there are cases when wide swaddling is simply necessary as a medical procedure that alleviates or refracts the course of an illness in an infant.

Let's talk about the procedure itself

From the first days of a baby's life, swaddling is considered to be an important component of caring for him. There are many types of this procedure. As a prevention of hip dysplasia, a method of wide swaddling of a newborn is used, in which the little one can take a physiologically comfortable position. It happens that, not knowing about this method of swaddling and how to do it correctly,modern mothers are afraid to apply it to their babies.

Quite often, wide swaddling is confused with free swaddling, when a little space is left for the movements of the crumbs, and the diaper is not tightened. But there are very important differences between the first method and the last:

• when using wide swaddling, the baby wraps only the lower part of the body;
• the baby's legs should be fixed in a widely spread position - the legs are bent at the knees and spread at an angle of 60-80 degrees (this is called a "frog"), which is fully consistent with their natural position; the head of the hip bone all the time rests against the cavity, thereby helping it to form in the form of a sphere;
• to fix the limbs in this position, a special pillow or roller should be placed between them (if free swaddling is used, attributes are not needed).

To help mothers in modern stores there is a significant variety of special devices and holders: a cover, panties for wide swaddling, a Freik splint (a bandage that is put on the baby and fastened with straps on the shoulders). Such swaddling can be used from the first days of a baby's life until he 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 newborns and infants. With dysplasia, there is an incorrect formation of parts of the hip joint andits elements. The acetabulum becomes flatter; ossification of the femoral head takes longer, is delayed in time; the joint capsule loses strength, and the articular ligaments lose elasticity.

These changes make it impossible to hold the head of the femur well during movements. When moving, it usually slides off the flat surface of the cavity and rests directly on the joint capsule, which is not able to withstand such a load.

Swaddling technique

The technique for performing such swaddling consists in using 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, the time of day. Important information! If you use one diaper during the summer months, the baby will be easier to endure the heat, and diaper rash will not occur.

The benefits of such swaddling (and with dysplasia)

It can be said that the main diagnosis, in which wide swaddling of a newborn is indicated, is hip dysplasia (abbreviated as DTS). Among babies, this problem is quite common - out of a thousand toddlers born, about 3% have this diagnosis.

It should be understood that DTS is a common name for a number of diseases. Usually, the following ailments are subjected to treatment, in which wide swaddling is used:

• immature hip joint;
• congenital preluxation;
• congenital subluxation;
• congenital dislocation (the most severe degreedysplasia, in which all elements of the joint are affected; the head of the joint may fall out of the glenoid cavity).

An identified pathology, in which the necessary measures are not taken to eliminate it, can provide difficult development of the musculoskeletal system (the baby will walk much later), the gait will be disturbed (it is also called "duck"), while walking there may be pain sensation, the spine will curve.

There are several ways to treat DTS: surgical, orthopedic, massage and physiotherapy. The swaddling in question belongs to the orthopedic method and has many advantages:

• easy to do;
• the use of rigid structures is possible only during late infancy, and at first wide swaddling or a sling is acceptable;
• this way you can avoid surgery, as it is applicable when other methods do not work or do not achieve the desired result; after the operation, there can be a difficult postoperative period, and the procedure itself is not always easy.

Learning step by step instructions

There are a few general rules to follow:

• Before you start swaddling, you should make sure that the baby is laid on a flat surface and nothing under the back causes him discomfort. Most often use a changing table or a mattress. If they are not available, the procedure can be performed on a regular bed.
• Diapers to choose thosewhich are sewn from natural fabrics. So the skin of the little one will breathe. Before swaddling, iron the diaper.

During swaddling, it is important to observe the temperature regime. So that the baby does not overheat, you can put on socks and sliders under the diaper - what will be right in this situation: if the baby is put to bed, then the lungs, if they take him out for a walk, then warm. You should also pay attention to whether the mother will carry the little one in her arms. Her warmth will definitely be transferred to the baby, he may become hot, he will start to worry

Having checked all this, you can start one of the swaddling methods.

Wrap with one diaper

How to make a wide swaddling 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 little ones.

The execution technique is as follows:

• diaper folds in four layers;
• the top layer must be unfolded to form a pocket (triangle);
• the resulting shape is turned over to the other side;
• the right angle inside side should be folded twice so that a thick strip can be placed in the center;
• put a baby in the center of the resulting product;
• wrap his legs with the appropriate corners of the diaper;
• gently spread the baby's legs, thread the third (tight) corner of the diaper, and put the sliders on the baby, fix its location.

Wide swaddling of a newborn with dysplasia using just one diaper will not only be simple, but also effective. And it is convenient for both the baby and the mother.

Wrap with two diapers

How to do wide swaddling using two diapers? It is this number that is optimal for this procedure. Mom will need diapers in sizes 80 x 20 cm and 80 x 90 cm.

• Fold a large diaper in half in a triangle, spread out, pointing down a right angle;
• put a smaller diaper on top, which is folded in two or three layers with a rectangle - it must be placed in the center (like a roller);
• put the baby on a diaper, skip this roller between his legs bent and spread apart and place him on the tummy;
• the legs of the little one must be wrapped in the corresponding corners of the diaper;
• then a 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 by changing the roller from time to time.

Wrap with three diapers

So, another wide swaddling. How to do it right? You will need three diapers in 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 top edge by 10 cm;
• put on top of it the one that measures 80 x 90 cm, folded in half in a triangle - the right angle is directed downwards;
• centeredthe second diaper to put a roller folded from the third diaper;
• put a baby on the roller, and pass this roller between its legs;
• the legs of the baby should be wrapped with the side corners of the middle diaper, and its lower corner should be raised between the legs;
• wrap the sides of the first diaper around the chest and tummy of the little one;
• point the lower part up, wrapping the remaining corners around the baby's body.

Zip Swaddle & Panties

Wide swaddling with a fastener is more modern technology. Now, to help mothers, there are wear-resistant fasteners for fabrics with clips or Velcro, which significantly reduce the number of diapers used.

• Place a diamond-shaped diaper on the changing table;
• bring the side corners towards each other with their location in the center;
• turn the top and bottom corner slightly towards the center to seal the product;
• put the baby here, between the legs of which pass the bottom corner, which is closed by the side corners;
• sides and bottom can be put on a clasp to finally fix everything.

The panty for wide swaddling is similar in shape to a regular diaper, and the price is about the same. They help in the treatment of dysplasia in the baby. While using these panties, the baby will be comfortable in the position that they provide.

Swaddling on a diaper and using a pillow

It is quite convenient to swaddle the baby in a diaper. Soit will be much easier for a new mother to take care of her baby, since there is no need to constantly wash diapers.

Consider wide swaddling for hip dysplasia using the Frejka pillow. In shape, it is similar to panties for the described procedure. It differs in that inside it has a dense frame that can well fix 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. This pillow should be worn on cotton fabric. This device allows the skin of the crumbs to breathe. It is applied around the clock, with the exception of moments when the baby needs to be bathed.

Weigh the pros and cons

What is wide swaddling (the photo usually shows all the details of this procedure) and why does the baby need it? In recent years, there has been a radical revision of the approach to caring 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 his legs under him, slightly bending them at the knee joints. It has long been established that just such a posture is most beneficial in order for the hip joint to finally form. As soon as mother's hormones are eliminated from the baby's body, ossification of the femoral head and strengthening of the articular ligaments immediately begin.

Wide swaddling for dysplasia is not only a good alternative to stirrups for this disease, but alsowill serve as a preventive measure for he althy babies. It would be more correct to perform such procedures before the baby has reached six months.

It must be remembered that it is permissible to prescribe such swaddling only to an orthopedist, since there are not always indications for this particular 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 the little one;
• if this method of treatment did not bring positive changes.

In this course of events, the question of the operation is raised.

Duration of treatment with this swaddling

Mommy should swaddle her baby like this every day. The peanut needs to be with legs apart for almost the whole day. Swaddling is allowed for a very short period of time - to bathe, do gymnastics and massage.

Soon effect, which, as a rule, most parents expect, with such swaddling will not. Moms and dads need to stock up on a fair amount of patience and come to terms with the fact that they will be in this mode for many months. In addition, we should not forget that the baby needs to be shown to the pediatric orthopedic doctor 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 cancellation. It is impossible to do this on your own due to the fact that in the future a grown child may have serious problemswith he alth.