An evaluation of Neuroprotective Developmental Care (NDC/Possums Programs) in the First 12 Months of Life

Transitioning to motherhood is an important life event. Stress often arises due to feeding concerns, infant crying, and sleep problems. Neuroprotective Developmental Care (NDC) also known as the Possums programs provides an evidence-based, consistent and holistic approach to maternal and infant wellbeing.

To understand maternal characteristics at point of services access and an exploratory evaluation of effectiveness of NDC/Possums services.

All mothers accessing NDC/Possums services via clinical services or self-paced online modules were invited to participate in a baseline survey. Follow up occurred when infants were 6 and 12 months of age. Participants who completed the 6-month survey were compared against their own baseline surveys. Those who completed the survey at 12-months were compared against their own baseline surveys. A pseudo-control group who had completed the baseline survey with infants 12 months of age was also compared to those who had accessed NDC/Possums services prior to 12 months of age (termed 'intervention' group).

Crying time, mothers' perceptions of infant sleep problems, mothers' own sleep, mothers' Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (AAQ) scores and the mothers' Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) scores showed statistically significant improvements from baseline to 12-month old follow-up. Significant differences were also found between the pseudo-control group and 'intervention' groups.

This results indicate that accessing NDC/Possums services is efficacious in addressing infant's crying, the mother's perceptions of their baby's sleep problems, the mother's own sleep satisfaction, the mother's experiential avoidance, and the mother's risk of postnatal depression. NDC is relevant to public health, clinical service delivery and education for health professionals.