Neurobehavioural development at term of extremely low-birthweight infants (less than 901g)

In a population of extremely low-birthweight (ELBW) infants with birthweights from 500 to 900g, born at 24 to 30 weeks gestation, neurobehavioural development at term was evaluated with the Brazelton Neonatal Behaviour Assessment Scale (BNBAS) and a standardized neurological examination. Compared with a control group of fullterm infants, no significant group differences were found for 19 of 27 BNBAS items; in seven other items they scored significantly lower and in one item they scored significantly higher. The BNBAS and the neurological examination showed abnormal responses in most ELBW infants with intracranial haemorrhage, especially those with grades III or IV. In spite of these differences the ELBW infants at term had a wide behavioural repertoire, with repeated, but short, periods of alertness and high performance. Parental awareness of the fluctuating state of ELBW infants at term is important for adequate parent-infant interactions.