What everyone wants to avoid with their patients in the NICU is stress. Whether it concerns reducing the sounds of a ventilator, limiting light exposure, or positioning the patient as comfortably as possible.
Prone Position
For the latter, many newborns are regularly placed in the prone position. Prone positioning promotes lung function and reduces stress. It also contributes to neuromuscular development. Positioning newborns well in the prone position can sometimes be a real challenge. Supporting the mobile head and extremities is not always easy. If you have to manipulate a lot, this causes more stress than you would like.
Because there are no standard tools, many creative solutions are devised for prone positioning. Rolling cloths, folding hydrophilic diapers: we often apply it. Customizing these solutions requires a lot of creativity, time, and energy. This can be easier and more efficient.
Dandy Prone Pad
The Dandy Prone Pad helps you with this. The prone position that the Prone Pad offers imitates the fetal prone position. The Prone Pad was developed in collaboration with neonatology professionals and their experiences. This positioning tool offers the aspects that are relevant during prone positioning: support of the head, body, and guidance of the extremities next to the body. This ensures an improved respiratory status, reduces stress, and, above all, stimulates neuromuscular development.
Good sizing is essential here. If the sizing does not fit properly, there is a greater chance of asymmetry in posture and excessive movement. You determine the correct size based on the weight and length from head to navel.
Combinations
Getting the child into a prone position is challenging. Maintaining the position may be even more difficult. It helps to use the Prone Pad in combination with other positioning devices such as the Snuggles, Froggy, Cozy Cub, Dandle PAL, Dandle Wrap and the Dandle Roo 2.
Would you like to know more or try out the Dandy Prone Pad? Please contact Irma Damhuis.
