Midline Swaddling and Traditional Swaddling Position and Their Influence on Physical and Autonomic Sign on Newborn Babies

The traditional method of swaddling is done with the arms and legs straightened and wrapped tightly with the hips in an adduction position, and newborns are mostly swaddled by traditional methods in Indonesia. When swaddling is properly performed, infants show less awakening and longer sleep, better neuromuscular development, less physiological stress, better motor organization, and better self-regulation abilities. Improper swaddling can result in conditions that are detrimental to newborns, such as SIDS and DDH, which cause stress. Early exposure of neonates to stress results in residual symptoms in behavior and neurobiological disorders. This study aimed to determine the effect of mid-line position compared with traditional swaddling regarding physical and autonomic stress signs. The study population comprised 194 newborns. The mid-line and traditionally swaddled were observed and recorded, and physical and autonomic signs at birth, 10 minutes and 2 hours were documented. This study found that there was a statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of cries at 10 minute and 2 hours and so with the heart rate and respiration rate at birth (p<0,05), and a significant difference in oxygen saturation at 10 minutes and 2 hours (p < 0,05). Additionally, mid-line swaddling had a larger average decrease in heart rate and respiration rate, and increase in the oxygen saturation. Therefore, this study can deduce that midline position swaddling has a less stressful effect than the traditional position. The same research elsewhere in Indonesia will be costly. Future research would suggest a larger sample that may suggest a more accurate outcome. Keywords: swaddling, midline position, traditional position, physical sign, autonomic sign. https://doi.org/10.55463/issn.1674-2974.50.8.10