Cobedding of twins: a natural extension of the socialization process?
From the point of conception, twins share a small, dark, enclosed space in which their bodies touch and are jostled together. Each twin is constantly interacting with his or her fellow womb-mate. At birth, they leave their warm, comforting environment and are separated from each other by well-meaning healthcare providers. In recent years many have come to recognize a need for twins to remain together in a common crib after birth as institutions initiate developmental care, and implement policies that help to alleviate the stress after birth. Cobedding is a newly recognized developmental care practice that could help twins adjust to the extrauterine environment by allowing them to coregulate their body temperatures, sleep/wake cycles, and state-regulation, and self-soothe as well as soothe each other. The potential benefits and risks of cobedding twins are explored in this article through a review of literature.
Hayward
Kathryn
K
Special Care Nursery, IWK Health Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. kathrynhayward240163@hotmail.com
D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007186:Incubators, Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal / Q000379:methods; D017283:Neonatal Nursing / Q000379:methods; D009633:Nonverbal Communication; D002666:Psychology, Child; D012307:Risk Factors; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology; D012951:Socialization; D014427:Twins / Q000523:psychology*; D014851:Wakefulness / Q000502:physiology