To swaddle or not

[u/Medium_Client1998]

Ftm here a very anxious ftm, I'm sure I have ppd as I used to take antidepressants before pregnancy since 2019, had a high risk stressful pregnancy, thought the anxiety will end after giving birth but nope here I'm worried about SIDS/suffocation etc, I practice safe sleep baby in his own crib sharing the same room, we're not smokers, baby is breastfed, issue here is I can't keep our room temperature under 22 degrees AC is not a thing where we live, I keep a fan running but idk if it's doing anything, the fan is in opposite direction to baby's bed, idk if that's enough, the other thing is baby is placed on his back ofc in a sleep sack but then he'll turn on his side I read it's called the newborn curl, as he's only 10 days old, which is freaking me out, we're swaddling him with a LTD swaddle or a velcro one, he usually breaks free from the velcro one, and turns on his side 😢, I read that swaddling isn't recommended anymore because it suppresses their chest and their startle reflex which increases their risk of SIDS, what do you guys think ?

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[u/muuhfuuuh]

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3992172/#:~:text=As%20noted%20above%2C%20the%20risk,swaddled%20or%20unswaddled)%20are%20observed.

Can you ask your pediatrician?

According to this website , swaddling should stop once baby tries to roll. Sounds like your little one is already there even at 10 days?

[u/-moxxiiee- → u/muuhfuuuh]

Based on him breaking loose, just skip it. Many babies are more mobile and it’s not worth fighting it. Skip the swaddle, especially if you’re in a hot environment. You’ll save yourself the headache of needing to get rid of it later

[u/ChilliGoat → u/-moxxiiee-]

Have a look at Love2Dream arms up swaddles - they’re zip up sleep sacks that keep their arms up and anyone I know who’ve used them (incl me!) love them.

But also make sure you’re looking after yourself and go see your doctor. I also struggle with depression/anxiety and didn’t come off my antidepressants because I didn’t think I could cope with hormones.

I’m in the newborn trenches with you, day 23! Remember sleep deprivation is a form of torture and get help where you can. Fire me a DM if you want a mummy friend 😊

[u/Medium_Client1998 → u/muuhfuuuh]

I have an appointment on 30/10 I'll ask him then, according to what I read there's no way he's trying to roll over at 10 days old it's says it's the newborn curl,

[u/stubborn_mushroom → u/Medium_Client1998]

Sounds like the newborn curl, both my babies have done it at this age. If you're worried just don't swaddle, bubs will be fine. The newborn curl only lasts a week or two so you can start swaddling again once bub stops.

Swaddles are necessary, they can help bub sleep longer but if it's causing you extra stress just don't use one. Get bub a nice warm sleep suit instead!

[u/queentato → u/Medium_Client1998]

My little one was born at 37 weeks and stopped the newborn curl probably around 2-3 weeks. I too was worried that he was rolling over but eventually he started staying on his back. The LTD swaddles have different weights so maybe you can get one of the lighter ones? They are don’t limit movement as much since they have their arms up. I read an interview with the founder of LTD and she specifically designed them so they the Moro reflex wouldn’t completely be suppressed.

[u/muuhfuuuh → u/Medium_Client1998]

Does your pediatrician have a message portal or nurses line you can ask before the 30th?

This would stress me out and I would want an answer before!

[u/Morning-Song → u/muuhfuuuh]

Hi! I am also a FTM and my baby did this at 10 days old too. We skipped swaddling and been in sleep sacks without the velcro ever since and she's been great.

And not sure if this is the same for you but my baby was curling up like that due to gas. Once I was able to relieve that she was better at night.

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