[Developmental care of premature newborns: Fundamentals and main characteristics]

Area of Science:

• Neonatalogy
• Developmental Pediatrics
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Premature newborns, particularly extremely preterm infants, require specialized care in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).
• Neonatal services increasingly integrate interventions aimed at promoting developmental outcomes beyond mere survival.
• Understanding the impact of neonatal stress on neurodevelopment is crucial for optimizing care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an updated synthesis of developmental-focused neonatal care.
• To explore the neurobiological foundations of neonatal stress and its effects on preterm infant development.
• To review the Synactive Theory as a framework for developmental care and discuss implementation evidence and challenges.

Main Methods:

• Literature review synthesizing current evidence on developmental-focused neonatal care.
• Description of neurobiological theoretical foundations related to neonatal stress.
• Analysis of the Synactive Theory and its application in neonatal intensive care.

Main Results:

• Neonatal stress significantly impacts the development of premature infants.
• The Synactive Theory offers a valuable model for understanding and implementing developmental care.
• Evidence supports developmental care interventions, but challenges in implementation persist, highlighting areas for improvement.

Conclusions:

• Improving the quality of care in NICUs is essential for promoting the resilience and developmental potential of preterm newborns.
• Strengthening the role of parents in neonatal care is a key component of developmental-focused strategies.
• Continued research and critical evaluation are needed to refine and optimize developmental care practices.