[Developmental support care, an invitation to interact]

Myrtha Martinet1

  • 1Hôpitaux universitaires de Genève, Suisse. myrtha.martinet@bluewin.ch

Insights

Developmental care programs support premature newborns by minimizing overstimulation and fostering parent-child bonding. This specialized care is crucial for addressing potential long-term issues in preterm infants.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal development
  • Developmental pediatrics
  • Perinatology

Context:

  • Premature birth presents unique challenges for infant development.
  • Even without immediate complications, preterm infants may face subsequent developmental issues.
  • The field of foetal and neonatal development is an evolving scientific discipline.

Purpose:

  • To outline the principles of developmental care for premature newborns.
  • To highlight the importance of managing sensory input for preterm infants.
  • To emphasize the role of the parent-child relationship in neonatal care.

Summary:

  • Developmental care programs focus on creating optimal environments for premature infants.
  • Key strategies include reducing overstimulation and addressing dys-stimulation.
  • Encouraging parent-child interaction is central to these programs.

Impact:

  • Developmental care aims to mitigate potential long-term sequelae in preterm infants.
  • This approach supports healthier neurodevelopmental outcomes.
  • It promotes secure attachment and positive family dynamics.

Related Concept Videos

Introduction to Developmental Psychology01:27

Introduction to Developmental Psychology

Developmental psychology explores the changes and continuities in human abilities throughout life, encompassing physical, cognitive, linguistic, and social dimensions. Human development is not restricted to growth, but includes aspects of decline, particularly in physical abilities as individuals age. Developmental psychologists seek to understand how people change as they age and how their mental and social skills evolve.Developmental MilestonesA key concept in developmental psychology is...
Specialized Care Centers and Settings-II01:30

Specialized Care Centers and Settings-II

Rural Health Centers
Rural health centers are specialized care facilities in remote locations with very few medical personnel. The primary care providers who run the centers are mostly Registered Nurse Practitioners. Here, emergency treatment is provided to critically ill or injured patients before they are transferred to the closest hospital. Fortunately, due to advancement in technology, many rural healthcare facilities and professionals have easy access to diagnostic and treatment...
Techniques of therapeutic communication I: Active Listening, Sharing Observations, Validation, and Using Touch01:15

Techniques of therapeutic communication I: Active Listening, Sharing Observations, Validation, and Using Touch

The history of therapeutic communication can be traced back to Florence Nightingale, who emphasized the importance of developing trusting relationships with patients. She taught that the presence of nurses with patients results in therapeutic healing.
Therapeutic communication is not the same as social interaction. Social interaction has no goal or purpose and consists of casual information sharing, whereas therapeutic communication has a plan or purpose for the conversation. Therapeutic...
Interdisciplinary Care: The Health Care Team-II01:18

Interdisciplinary Care: The Health Care Team-II

An interdisciplinary team includes many healthcare professionals working together and utilizing their skills, knowledge, and expertise to provide holistic and quality patient care. Here are a few more healthcare professionals.
Physical Therapist
A physical therapist (PT) aims to restore function or prevent additional impairment in a patient following an injury or disease. Massage, heat, cold, water, sonar waves, exercises, and electrical stimulation are some treatments used by PTs to treat...
Specialized Care Centers and Settings-I01:30

Specialized Care Centers and Settings-I

Specialized care settings or centers are situated in convenient locations within the community and offer care to a specific group or population. They consist of daycare facilities, mental health facilities, rural health facilities, educational institutions, industries, shelters for the homeless, and rehabilitation facilities.
Daycare centers
They provide several functions. Some facilities care for healthy newborns and children whose parents work, while others are medically focused and care for...
Social Facilitation01:04

Social Facilitation

Not all intergroup interactions lead to negative outcomes. Sometimes, being in a group situation can improve performance. Social facilitation occurs when an individual performs better when an audience is watching than when the individual performs the behavior alone. This typically occurs when people are performing a task for which they are skilled.