Gentle support for the little ones: weighted blankets for neonatal abstinence syndrome
Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) is a serious challenge faced by newborns who have been exposed to drugs or medications during pregnancy. These babies may show withdrawal symptoms after birth, requiring special care and support. In this context, the use of weighted blankets has been studied as a possible treatment method.
Participants & Procedure: The study was conducted at Good Samaritan TriHealth Hospital and included 16 newborns with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). During the study, the NAS infants had a total of 67 sessions that included either a weighted blanket or a regular blanket. Each session lasted 30 minutes.
Results: The use of weighted blankets resulted in a significant decrease in heart rate and Finnegan score in the NAS infants. The Finnegan score is used to evaluate the severity of withdrawal symptoms in newborns. In addition, no complaints were reported about the weighted blankets, and there were no changes in temperature. The medical staff and patients did not object to the use of weighted blankets, and there were no obstacles to their use. However, there were no significant changes in respiratory rate.
Conclusion: The study suggests that the use of weighted blankets may be a promising option for reducing NAS symptoms in newborns. These blankets could help ease withdrawal for these babies and give them a better start in life.
You can get the weighted blanket here:
Baenny cotton weighted blanket
