Reduction of head flattening in preterm infants.

Twins born after 30 weeks gestation were studied. One twin was reared with a water pillow for head support for 36 days and retained a more rounded head shape, comparable to the normal configuration at birth. The other twin had standard neonatal care and developed the scaphocephalic head typical of most ex-preterm infants. It is suggested that water pillows constitute a simple method of reducing skull deformation in preterm infants.