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Am J Perinatol 2023; 40(13): 1454-1460
DOI: 10.1055/a-1649-2077
Original Article

Preterm Newborn Adaptive Responses to Daily Nursing during Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Stay, Associate with Neurodevelopment, 2 Years Later

Stefano Bembich
1   Division of Neonatology and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Institute for Maternal and Child Health Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico “Burlo Garofolo,” Trieste, Italy
,
Francesco M. Risso
1   Division of Neonatology and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Institute for Maternal and Child Health Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico “Burlo Garofolo,” Trieste, Italy
,
Nicoleta Stan
2   Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences, School of Nursing, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
,
Domitilla Lamba
2   Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences, School of Nursing, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
,
Carolina Banova
1   Division of Neonatology and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Institute for Maternal and Child Health Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico “Burlo Garofolo,” Trieste, Italy
,
Arianna Pagnini
1   Division of Neonatology and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Institute for Maternal and Child Health Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico “Burlo Garofolo,” Trieste, Italy
,
Maura Bin
3   Division of Child Neuropsychiatry, Institute for Maternal and Child Health—IRCCS “Burlo Garofolo,” Trieste, Italy
,
Antonella Trappan
1   Division of Neonatology and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Institute for Maternal and Child Health Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico “Burlo Garofolo,” Trieste, Italy
,
Gianfranco Sanson
2   Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences, School of Nursing, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
› Author Affiliations Funding None.
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Abstract

Objective This study aimed to evaluate if adaptive responses of very preterm newborns to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) daily nursing, specifically bathing and weighing procedures are associated with their neurodevelopment after 2 years.

Study Design Twenty-six very preterm newborns, with a gestational age <32 weeks, were enrolled. Infants' adaptive responses to daily nursing were evaluated, at 30 to 32 to 35 postmenstrual age (PMA) weeks by an observational sheet. Neurodevelopment was assessed at 24 months of corrected age by the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, third edition. Autonomic, motor, and self-regulatory responses to NICU nursing were analyzed by Spearman's correlation coefficient and multivariate linear regression with Bayley's cognitive, language, and motor scales.

Results Significant (p < 0.05) positive correlations of self-regulatory and autonomic responses to nursing with all Bayley's scales were found at 30- and 32-week PMA. At 35-week PMA, only self-regulatory responses had significant positive correlations with all Bayley's scales. When adjusted for birth weight and sex, the significant associations were confirmed only at 30- and 32-week PMA.

Conclusion Very preterm newborn adaptive responses to NICU daily nursing reveal to be positively related to forthcoming neurodevelopment 2 years later, as early as the 30-week PMA. Helping preterm babies to adapt to daily NICU nursing may promote their future neurobehavior.

Key Points

  • Preterm adaptation to nursing was studied.

  • Adaptation positively relates to neurodevelopment.

  • Such relation is detected since 30-week PMA.

Keywords

neonatal nursing - preterm newborn - adaptive responses - neurodevelopmental outcome

Data Availability

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available in the Mendeley Data repository, doi:10.17632/h4myhp5hkd.1.




Publication History

Received: 17 May 2021

Accepted: 14 September 2021

Accepted Manuscript online:
20 September 2021

Article published online:
23 November 2021

© 2021. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.
333 Seventh Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10001, USA

 

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