B1 Non-refereed article in a scientific journal
A pivotal moment in the evolution of neonatal care
Authors: White Robert D., Lehtonen Liisa, Reber Kristina M., Phillips Raylene
Publisher: SPRINGERNATURE
Publication year: 2022
Journal: Journal of Perinatology
Journal acronym: J PERINATOL
Number of pages: 2
ISSN: 0743-8346
eISSN: 1476-5543
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-022-01436-z
Abstract
While extraordinary advances have been made in the medical care of critically ill newborns, understanding the need of even the smallest of these infants for early, extensive, intimate human contact and facilitating the family's role in the care of their baby has been much slower and inconsistent. There is abundant evidence for the essential role of nurturing parent-infant connections (bonding/attachment) for development of optimal physical, cognitive, and emotional health of all babies. It is time to leave behind the tradition of sensory deprivation and social isolation common in the care of high-risk infants. A paradigm shift is needed in neonatal care to acknowledge the critical importance of infant and family-centered developmental care and to remove any remaining constraints on a family's ability to become full partners in the nurture of their NICU newborn.
While extraordinary advances have been made in the medical care of critically ill newborns, understanding the need of even the smallest of these infants for early, extensive, intimate human contact and facilitating the family's role in the care of their baby has been much slower and inconsistent. There is abundant evidence for the essential role of nurturing parent-infant connections (bonding/attachment) for development of optimal physical, cognitive, and emotional health of all babies. It is time to leave behind the tradition of sensory deprivation and social isolation common in the care of high-risk infants. A paradigm shift is needed in neonatal care to acknowledge the critical importance of infant and family-centered developmental care and to remove any remaining constraints on a family's ability to become full partners in the nurture of their NICU newborn.
UTU Research Portal