INDIVIDUALIZED DEVELOPMENTAL CARE FOR VERY-LOW-BIRTH-WEIGHT PREMATURE-INFANTS

Forty very-low-birth-weight neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) infant s with birth weights less than or equal to 1,250 g were randomly assig ned to treatment or control groups. Behavior of the treatment infants was systematically evaluated, and individualized developmentally orien ted care plans were implemented to enhance stability. Treatment babies required fewer days of intermittent mandatory ventilation and continu ous positive airway pressure and achieved full enteral feedings sooner , Length of hospital stay and hospital charges were less for treatment than control infants. There were favorable effects on treatment infan ts' behavioral performance at 42 weeks' postconceptional age. These re sults support the hypothesis that behaviorally sensitive, developmenta lly oriented care improves medical and neurodevelopmental outcome in t he NICU.