Cobedding of twin premature infants: calming effects on pain responses.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this trial was to determine whether cobedding of preterm twins has analgesic effects during heel lancing or not.


METHODS
One hundred premature twins (50 sets) born between 26 weeks' and 34 weeks' gestation undergoing heel blood sampling were randomly assigned into two groups: the cobedding group (receiving care in the same incubator) and the standard care group (receiving care in separate incubators). Pain was assessed using the premature infant pain profile score. Duration of crying was measured after heel blood sampling, and salivary cortisol was measured prior to and after heel blood sampling.


RESULTS
Infants in the standard care group cried for a longer time during heel lancing than those in the cobedding group (42.6 ± 19.8 seconds vs. 36.4 ± 21.7 seconds, p = 0.03). The mean premature infant pain profile score after heel lancing was significantly higher in the standard care group (9.8 ± 2.6 vs. 8.06 ± 2.8, p = 0.002). The mean salivary cortisol after heel lancing was also significantly higher in the standard care group (24.3 ± 7.4 nmol/L vs. 20.8 ± 7.4 nmol/L, p = 0.02). No significant adverse effects were seen with cobedding.


CONCLUSIONS
Cobedding is a comforting measure for twin premature infants during heel lancing, which can be performed without any significant adverse effects.
Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, and Child Growth and Development Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. Electronic address: badiei@med.mui.ac.ir.
Zohreh
Z
Badiee
Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, and Child Growth and Development Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Zohreh
Z
Nassiri
Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, and Child Growth and Development Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Amirmohammad
A
Armanian
D001800:Blood Specimen Collection / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006365:Heel; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis; D007185:Incubators; D007224:Infant Care / Q000379:methods*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D014427:Twins
D006854:Hydrocortisone
heel lance; pain; preterm infant