Premature infant care

AIM: To evaluate the effect of olfactory and/or gustatory stimulation interventions on feeding outcomes in preterm infants. METHODS: We conducted systematic searches across various academic databases, including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, the Chinese Biomedical Literature Service System, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, the Wanfang Database, and the Wipu Database. These searches aimed to identify randomized controlled trials investigating the impact of olfactory and/or gustatory stimulation on preterm infants...

IMPORTANCE: The prevalence of cannabis use in pregnancy is rising and is associated with adverse perinatal outcomes. In parallel, combined prenatal use of cannabis and nicotine is also increasing, but little is known about the combined impact of both substances on pregnancy and offspring outcomes compared with each substance alone. OBJECTIVE: To assess the perinatal outcomes associated with combined cannabis and nicotine exposure compared with each substance alone during pregnancy...

BACKGROUND: Birth outcomes are worse for birthing people and infants in the USA than other high-income economies and worse still for underprivileged communities. Historically, the Latine community has experienced positive birth outcomes, despite low socioeconomic status and other socio-political disadvantages, leading to what has been termed as the Hispanic birth paradox. However, this perinatal advantage and protective effect appears to have been shattered by unfavorable policies, structural conditions, societal attitudes, and traumatic events impacting Latine immigrants, leading to negative effects on the health and well-being of birthing Latines-regardless of citizenship status and increasing rates of preterm birth and low birth weight infants...

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of low-dose aspirin (LDA) on obstetrical outcomes through a meta-analysis of placebo-controlled randomized controlled trials (RCTs). METHODS: A systematic search of the PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and Embase databases from inception to January 2024 was conducted to identify studies exploring the role of aspirin on pregnancy, reporting obstetrical-related outcomes, including preterm birth (PTB, gestational age <37 weeks), small for gestational age (SGA), low birth weight (LBW, birthweight < 2500g), perinatal death (PND), admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), 5-min Apgar score < 7 and placental abruption...

PURPOSE: Predicting bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) to assess the risk-benefit of therapy is necessary considering the side effects of medications. We developed and validated an instrument for predicting BPD and compared it with an instrument currently used for neonates born in a Brazilian hospital. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of patients born between 2016 and 2020 with a gestational age (GA) between 23 and 30 weeks. Predictive equations were elaborated using methods of component variable selection collected on the 14th day of life; 70% of the sample was randomly selected for the construction of risk prediction equations and the remaining 30% for their validation, application, and comparison with the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) instrument...

PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine the health concerns of parents regarding their premature infants and to identify changes in these concerns during perinatal period and after discharge. METHODS: This was a retrospective study performed at a single tertiary center that enrolled 119 premature infants who were discharged from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and visited the outpatient pediatrics department between December 2018 and October 2021. Data on the concerns of 176 parents regarding enrolled premature infants' health from before birth to 1 week after NICU discharge were obtained from outpatient records...

BACKGROUND: A peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) is an important way to supply long-term intravenous infusion or parenteral nutrition for premature infants, especially very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. PICC removal difficulties occur mostly during use. It is rare to have difficulty removing a PICC due to reverse folding during catheterization. We presented a case to explore the nursing experience of caring for a VLBW infant with difficult PICC removal. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 30-week, 1,240-g infant, suffered a difficult PICC removal during the catheterization adjustment process...

Managing acute abdomen in very low birth weight (VLBW) and premature infants presents a diagnostic challenge, often necessitating a thorough assessment to discern underlying causes. Umbilical venous catheters (UVCs), commonly used in neonatal intensive care, are essential but not without risks. A 29-week premature male infant, born to a 23-year-old mother, was referred to our clinic on the 16th day of life with a suspected diagnosis of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). The infant had spent the first day intubated and received non-invasive respiratory support for 15 days...

IMPORTANCE: Infants who are born preterm often experience difficulty transitioning from full tube to independent oral feeds, which often prolongs their hospital stay. No clinical measures associated with attainment of independent oral feeds are currently available. OBJECTIVE: To identify specific nutritive sucking measures associated with time to attainment of independent oral feeds among infants who are born preterm. DESIGN: An observational cohort pilot study was undertaken...

BACKGROUND:  Stillbirths are a global public health challenge, predominantly affecting low- and middle-income countries. The causes of most stillbirths are preventable. OBJECTIVES:  this study reviewed perinatal clinical audit data from Kgapane Hospital over a 4-year period with a special focus on the factors associated with stillbirths. METHODS:  File audits were done for all stillbirths occurring at Kgapane Hospital and its catchment area from 2018 to 2021...

BACKGROUND: Early sensory experiences have a significant impact on the later life of preterm infants. The NICU soundscape is profoundly influenced by various modalities of respiratory support or ventilation, which are often mandatory early in the care. The incubator, believed to shield from external noise, is less effective against noise originating inside. The objective of this study was to evaluate the sound levels and characteristics of frequently used respiratory support and ventilation modalities, taking into consideration the developing auditory system of premature infants...

PURPOSE: This study aimed to create, verify and assess the clinical utility of a prediction model for maternal and neonatal adverse outcomes in pregnant women with hypothyroidism. METHODS: A prediction model was developed, and its accuracy was tested using data from a retrospective cohort. The study focused exclusively on female patients diagnosed with hypothyroidism who were admitted to a tertiary hospital. The development and validation cohort comprised individuals who gave birth between 1 October 2020 and 31 December 2022...

Preterm babies who received 72 hours of breastfeeding practice before introducing a bottle had significantly higher rates of breastfeeding at the time of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) discharge than did babies who were introduced to bottle-feeding with or before breastfeeding during the first 72 hours of oral feeding or babies who were primarily bottle-fed. There were no statistical differences in corrected gestational age (CGA) at birth, first oral feeding, or full oral feeds, in days from first to full oral feeds, or in CGA or days of life at NICU discharge...

Caring for extremely preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is a multidisciplinary team effort. A clear understanding of roles for each member of the delivery team, anticipation of challenges, and standardized checklists support improved outcomes for this population. Physicians and nursing leaders are responsible for being role models and holding staff accountable for creating a unit culture of Neuroprotective Infant and Family-Centered Developmental Care. It is essential for parents to be included as part of the care team and babies to be acknowledged for their efforts in coping with the developmentally unexpected NICU environment...

Bonding and attachment are known to be critically important for the well-being of infants and children. Both bonding and attachment can begin before birth, which impacts fetal and infant brain development and may improve birth outcomes. Babies in the womb and preterm babies in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) can hear and respond to maternal voices with positive effects on physiologic stability, brain development, and language development. Supporting emotional connections before and after birth is the responsibility and the privilege of health-care providers who care for pregnant mothers and babies in the NICU...

Neonatology is a pediatric sub-discipline focused on providing care for newborn infants, including healthy newborns, those born prematurely, and those who present with illnesses or malformations requiring medical care. The European Training Requirements (ETR) in Neonatology provide a framework for standardized quality and recognition of equality of training throughout Europe. The latest ETR version was approved by the Union of European Medical Specialists (UEMS) in April 2021. Here, we present the curriculum of the European School of Neonatology Master of Advanced Studies (ESN MAS), which is based on the ETR in Neonatology and aims to provide a model for effective and standardized training and education in neonatal medicine...

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Neonatal intensive care treatment, including frequently performed painful procedures and administration of analgesic drugs, can have different effects on the neurodevelopment. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the influence of pain, opiate administration, and pre-emptive opiate administration on pain threshold in animal studies in rodents, which had a brain development corresponding to preterm and term infants. METHODS: A systematic literature search of electronic data bases including CENTRAL (OVID), CINAHL (EBSCO), Embase...

Human mother milk is considered the most healthy and best source of nutrition for both premature and full-term infants, as it possesses many health benefits and is associated with its consumption. Some of the mothers are not able to produce an adequate quantity of milk to meet the required needs of the infants, particularly in cases involving premature births or facing challenges in breastfeeding. Especially for the most vulnerable premature infants, donor human milk (DHM) provides a helpful bridge for effective breastfeeding...

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to determine the effectiveness of antenatal corticosteroid in reducing respiratory morbidity in babies born in the late preterm period. METHODS: Two hundred and eighty-six pregnant women at risk of having a late preterm delivery were studied. One hundred and forty-three (143) served as the cases and were given 2 doses of 12 mg intramuscular dexamethasone 12 h apart, while 143 served as the controls and were given a similar quantity of placebo...

The parents of a baby hospitalized in a neonatal unit are confronted with the trauma of premature birth. L'Atelier créa, a creatively-mediated peer group, was designed to give them a space in which to meet and share their experiences. It's a time for talking, imagining and dreaming about the baby. This group is also a form of passage, taking the place of ritual, allowing access to the parent-baby triad, in this sometimes so inhospitable universe.