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The term ‘developmental care’ is commonly used on neonatal units. Indeed, as a parent on NICU or SCBU you will frequently encounter language relating to care that is ‘developmentally-friendly’. ‘Developmental care’ itself encompasses a broad range of interventions, many of which will be described in the following pages, which help to support and facilitate the stabilisation, recovery and development of infants and families in an effort to promote optimal developmental outcome.

 

Evidence suggests that babies born prematurely or acutely unwell are at an increased risk of medical complications, growth deficits and neurological impairment along with a range of more subtle cognitive and behavioural difficulties. Consequently, strategies have been explored within neonatal units worldwide to help reduce these risks, and accomplish a much more positive outcome for sick and premature infants.

 

The third trimester is the most important in the development of the fetal brain, indeed it is at this stage that the brain develops at a greater stage than any other during intra-uterine or extra-uterine life. Consequently, if a baby is delivered prior to this important stage in brain development, the developing brain is vulnerable to abnormal influences and stresses from the NICU/SCBU environment, an environment which is highly inappropriate for both the infant and the family.

 

The following pages aim to identify how developmentally-friendly care is fulfilled with the neonatal unit, how you, as parents, can assist in achieving optimal outcome for your baby by both assessing your baby’s cues and responding appropriately and how practitioners may assess infant behaviours to deliver an appropriate plan of care based on an individual and holistic approach.