Early Dyadic Patterns of Mother–Infant Interactions and Outcomes of Prematurity at 18 Months

Abstract

Among mother-preterm infant dyads, we identified 2 specific patterns of interaction that could play either a protective (cooperative pattern) or a risk-precipitating (controlling pattern) role on developmental and behavioral outcome, independent of perinatal risk factors and of the family's socioeconomic background. The controlling pattern is much more prevalent among preterm than term dyads and is related to a less favorable infant outcome. However, the cooperative pattern still represents almost 30% of the preterm dyads, with infants' outcome comparable to the ones of term infants. These results point out the impact of the quality of mother-infant relationship on the infant's outcome. The most important clinical implication should be to support a healthy parent-infant relationship already in the NICU but also in the first months of the infant's life. Early individualized family-based interventions during neonatal hospitalization and transition to home have been shown to reduce maternal stress and depression and increase maternal self-esteem and to improve positive early parent-preterm infant interactions.

Perinatal Risk Factors for Feeding and Eating Disorders in Children Aged 0 to 3 Years

“…Although our study design does not allow conclusions about the reasons for the increased FED in preterm and SGA children, we consider that the potential causal factors include neurologic problems, effects of tube feeding, and early mother-infant relationship. 35 Another factor to consider is the slow weight gain in preterm and SGA infants whose growth does not catch up in the first year of life. Other studies 29 have found that slow weight gain in infancy is strongly associated with FED.…”

Let’s play! An observational study of primary care physical therapy with preterm infants aged 3–14 months

“…Furthermore, interactions characterized by caregiver sensitivity and synchronized dyadic interactions correlate with better developmental outcomes for preterm infants (Forcada-Guex, Pierrehumbert, Borghini, Moessinger, & Muller-Nix, 2006;Treyvaud, et al, 2009). …”

Incubator weaning in preterm infants and associated practice variation

“…This can result in delayed incubator weaning and subsequent adverse effects on parental bonding. 3 Furthermore, maternal perception may be more positive when the infant is cared for in an open crib. Earlier weaning to a crib may therefore have an impact on infant development and contribute to increased breast-feeding rates.…”