Listening to Preemies

Coming into the world after nine months in a mother’s womb is startling enough for any baby, but for preemies, the transition can be even harder. Suddenly they’re thrust out of their dark warm world into one with bright lights, loud noises and unsupported room to move and all without fully developed organs. A group of doctors and nurses is finding that subtle changes in care can make those first days a little easier.

They weigh only a few pounds and can’t talk, but if you pay close attention, these babies speak volumes. “When babies are stressed they’ll do things, for example, like splay their fingers out. They’ll stretch and they’ll arch,” says pediatrician Marilyn Sanders, M.D., of University of Connecticut Health Science Center in Farmington.

Through these unique behaviors, babies are communicating what they need. Doctors and nurses observe the babies’ behaviors before, during and after routine procedures and “listen” to what the babies say. Then they change their own behaviors.

Dr. Sanders says, “Rather than the baby simply lying in the incubator and letting the tube, the food dribble down the tube, you might actually take the baby out of the incubator, interact with the baby, and make eye contact.” Even the environment is adjusted to be more like the womb, with dim lights, fewer loud noises, and special crib bumpers to imitate the womb.

The individualized developmental care seems to be working.

Cathy Daguio, a developmental specialist and coordinator for University of Connecticut Newborn Intensive Care Nursery, says, "They don’t seem to require staying on the ventilator as long, they’re able to feed by bottle or breast sooner. They have better outcomes in terms of their developmental scores.”

With guidance, mothers, too, become part of the healing process. Melissa Gamble, a mother of a preemie, says, “When she was stretching before, just tucking her back in and giving her that comfort of her in the womb.”

It’s care that makes both mom and babies a little happier.

This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.