The effects of obstetric conditions on neonatal behaviour in Japanese infants

The effects of obstetric conditions on neonatal neurological status and neonatal behaviour were studied using a sample of 159 Japanese infants who were neurologically and obstetrically low-risk. Observations were made using Prechtl's neonatal neurological examination and Brazelton's neonatal behavioural assessment on the 5th day after birth. The main obstetric conditions which relate to neurological status and behaviour are anaesthesia, induction of labour, previous spontaneous abortion, previous induced abortion and maternal alcohol consumption. The main areas of neurological status and behaviour which are affected by obstetric conditions are lability of states, alertness, orientation, habituation, activity, hand to mouth activity, defensive movements, head control and resistance to cuddle. The results of the present study suggest that even a small difference of low-risk obstetric conditions is related to differences in neonatal neurological status and neonatal behaviour. On the one hand inter-item relations were found and on the other hand the results supported Prechtl's finding [16] that an analysis of the relation between obstetric conditions and neonatal status as a whole is preferable to an item by item comparison.