Chennai: Mustard seed- stuffed pillows can mould the shape of a preterm infant’s head and shoulder, equalizing pressure on the cranium and allowing symmetric positioning without restricting movement, doctors from Christian Medical College, Vellore, have found.
This method, used in rural Rajasthan and Nepal primarily, is a cost-effective intervention to prevent distortion of the skull — deformational plagiocephaly — in hospitalized preterm infants.
During a randomised trial, a reduced risk of deformational plagiocephaly (flat head syndrome) was seen among hospitalised preterm infants weighing less than 1.5 kg admitted to the neonatal ICU in CMC who were positioned on mustard seed pillows with additional nesting.
For the trial, doctors gave 28 preterm infants mustard seed pillows in addition to standard nesting. An equal number of infants in the control group received just standard nesting. Assessment in the first and fourth weeks showed that more infants in the control group had plagiocephaly compared to those who received the mustard pillows. “Mustard seed pillows are easily available. It is a cost-effective intervention to prevent plagiocephaly,” the study’s first author Christina Felcy Saji, department of occupational therapy, at CMC, Vellore said. Doctors furter said they noted no adverse effects in using mustard seed pillows.
Traditionally, grandmothers ask parents to leave healthy children on mats for a few hours every day instead of beds or automated rockers. It is believed that when babies move their heads in different directions on hard surfaces, their heads shape well. Premature babies, born before 32 weeks of gestation, stay in the neo-natal ICU for several days and most of them sleep on one side increasing risk of skulls that looks flat or disfigured, say neonatologists.
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This method, used in rural Rajasthan and Nepal primarily, is a cost-effective intervention to prevent distortion of the skull — deformational plagiocephaly — in hospitalized preterm infants.
During a randomised trial, a reduced risk of deformational plagiocephaly (flat head syndrome) was seen among hospitalised preterm infants weighing less than 1.5 kg admitted to the neonatal ICU in CMC who were positioned on mustard seed pillows with additional nesting.
For the trial, doctors gave 28 preterm infants mustard seed pillows in addition to standard nesting. An equal number of infants in the control group received just standard nesting. Assessment in the first and fourth weeks showed that more infants in the control group had plagiocephaly compared to those who received the mustard pillows. “Mustard seed pillows are easily available. It is a cost-effective intervention to prevent plagiocephaly,” the study’s first author Christina Felcy Saji, department of occupational therapy, at CMC, Vellore said. Doctors furter said they noted no adverse effects in using mustard seed pillows.
Traditionally, grandmothers ask parents to leave healthy children on mats for a few hours every day instead of beds or automated rockers. It is believed that when babies move their heads in different directions on hard surfaces, their heads shape well. Premature babies, born before 32 weeks of gestation, stay in the neo-natal ICU for several days and most of them sleep on one side increasing risk of skulls that looks flat or disfigured, say neonatologists.
We also published the following articles recently
8 lesser-known benefits of Black Sesame Seeds
Black sesame seeds can be included in various dishes or consumed as supplements. They are healthy and mostly harmless, but allergies may occur. Consult a doctor before adding black sesame seeds to your diet. They are a versatile and beneficial addition to a healthy lifestyle.
Black sesame seeds can be included in various dishes or consumed as supplements. They are healthy and mostly harmless, but allergies may occur. Consult a doctor before adding black sesame seeds to your diet. They are a versatile and beneficial addition to a healthy lifestyle.
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23-year-old Yamalapalli’s massive upset win over top seed Kayla Day. Rutuja Bhosale advanced to the second round, while Ankita Raina lost to American eighth seed Katie Volynets. Slovenia’s Tamara Zidansek withdrew due to illness and was replaced by lucky loser Camilia Rosatello.
23-year-old Yamalapalli’s massive upset win over top seed Kayla Day. Rutuja Bhosale advanced to the second round, while Ankita Raina lost to American eighth seed Katie Volynets. Slovenia’s Tamara Zidansek withdrew due to illness and was replaced by lucky loser Camilia Rosatello.