title: Co-bedding versus single-bedding premature multiple-gestation infants in incubators.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the physiological stability and behavioral effects of co-bedding with those of single-bedding premature multiple-gestation infants in incubators as well as the psychological effects on their parents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, randomized, repeated measure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Convenience sample of 16 infants and 8 parents in the co-bedded group, and 21 infants and 11 parents in the control group.
  
  
  METHODS
  Infants in the study group were co-bedded in incubators.
  
  
  METHODS
  Baseline and posttesting for parental state anxiety, maternal attachment, and parental satisfaction measures; infant sleep-wake synchronicity; physiological measures; and stress cue measures during baseline and activity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Repeated measures 5 (time) x 2 (group) analysis of variance found significant differences in infant daily weight, feeding amount, and high-activity heart rate. There was no difference in parental state anxiety, maternal attachment, and parental satisfaction scores by group, except for higher baseline parental satisfaction scores in the co-bedded group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This research demonstrated the safety of co-bedding multiple-gestation infants in incubators but did not find any significant clinical improvement in infant or parental outcomes with co-bedding. Neonatal intensive-care unit providers should educate staff and parents about the potential benefits of co-bedding and consider developing policies and procedures for co-bedding in both incubators and cribs. Co-bedding of multiple-gestation infants may be provided as an adjunctive developmental care strategy if parents desire this intervention.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, College of Health and Public Affairs, University of Central Florida, Orlando 32816-2210, USA. jbyers@mail.ucf.edu
authors.forename: Jacqueline Fowler
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Byers
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yovaish
authors.forename: Linda B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Lowman
authors.forename: Jennifer D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Francis
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007186:Incubators, Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000502:physiology*; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D009099:Multiple Birth Offspring; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*