The Quality of Spontaneous Movements of Preterm Infants: Associations with the Quality of Mother–Infant Interaction

Abstract

The assessment of the quality of infants’ spontaneous movements is a diagnostic tool for the young nervous system. We examined whether it relates to the quality of the interactions between infants born preterm and their mothers. Thirty‐nine healthy infants born preterm (Mage in weeks = 14.59, SD = 2.21; 38.46% female) and their mothers participated in the study. Infants’ quality of spontaneous movements was assessed using the General Movement Assessment according to Prechtl (Prechtl, Early Human Development 1990, 23, 151). A new measurement was employed to evaluate the following aspects of the mother–infant interaction: maternal sensitivity in the motor modality (i.e., when touching, picking up, holding, and putting down the infant), maternal sensitivity in the modalities of vocalization and eye contact, and infants’ positive engagement. Several aspects of infants’ quality of movements were associated with maternal sensitivity in the motor modality and infants’ positive engagement, but not with maternal sensitivity in the modalities of vocalization and eye contact. These findings suggest that the quality of infants’ spontaneous movements may explain some of the variability in the interactions between infants born preterm and their mothers. The results also highlight the importance of differentiating between the modalities of mothers’ behavior when assessing their sensitivity. Implications for research and practice with families of preterm infants are discussed.

The association between the early motor repertoire and language development in term children born after normal pregnancy

“…A previous study showed that the quality of infants’ early motor repertoire might explain some of the variability in the interactions between preterm-born infants and their mothers. (25) It might be that smooth and fluent movements on the part of the infant lead to another type of parent-child interaction than non-fluent movements. It is known that language development already starts early on in life.…”

Fidgety movements – tiny in appearance, but huge in impact

“…Furthermore, infants who display smooth and fluent movements engage more easily with their mother. 19 To sum up, infants with normal FMs are very likely to show a neurologically normal development. This is irrespective Fidgety movements S67 of pre-or perinatal complications and is therefore vital for their parents' comfort.…”

Spontaneous movements, motor milestones, and temperament of preterm‐born infants: Associations with mother–infant attunement

“…We investigated the association between infants' spontaneous movement and the attunement of the mother-infant interaction in a pilot study of a small sample of infants born preterm at the CA of 3-4 months (Lev-Enacab et al, 2015). We found the continual expression of FMs was associated with more sensitive maternal touch and holding.…”

“…Sixty Israeli mothers and their preterm-born infants participated in this study. Thirty-nine of these dyads participated in our pilot study (Lev-Enacab et al, 2015). Dyads were recruited via flyers in NICUs and pediatric clinics, and electronic flyers were published on social networks sites for mothers of infants.…”

“…Disagreements were resolved through discussion, until consensus was reached. For information on the reliability and validity of the MIA scales obtained in our pilot study, see Lev-Enacab et al (2015).…”