Manage Neonatal Stressors

Stressful events – a byproduct of life for babies in the NICU – may increase their heart rate and blood pressure, while decreasing their oxygen levels.¹ Even sensory and environmental stimuli we take for granted, such as a simple touch and noise and bright lights, can affect physiologic responses such as heart rate, respiration, and oxygen saturation.([FOOTNOTE=Peng N-H, Bachman J, Jenkins R, et al. Relationships between environmental stressors and stress biobehavioral responses of preterm infants in NICU. J Perinat Neonatal Nurs. 2009;23(4):363-371.],[ANCHOR=],[LINK=])^,([FOOTNOTE=Smith JR. Comforting touch in the very preterm hospitalized infant: an integrative review. Adv Neonatal Care. 2012;12(6):349-365.],[ANCHOR=],[LINK=])

The additive impact of multiple stressors over time may have profound long-term consequences on the lives of NICU babies.³ In the rapidly developing perinatal brain, repeated neonatal stress may have long-term effects on the central nervous system,³ including effects on neural structure, function, and development.([FOOTNOTE=Newnham CA, Inder TE, Milgrom J. Measuring preterm cumulative stressors within the NICU: the Neonatal Infant Stressor Scale. Early Hum Dev. 2009;85(9):549-555.],[ANCHOR=],[LINK=])^,([FOOTNOTE=Smith BA, Gutovich J, Smyser MD, et al. Neonatal intensive care unit stress is associated with brain development in preterm infants. Ann Neurol. 2011;70(4):541-549.],[ANCHOR=],[LINK=])

Watch how the staff of Rush University Medical Center combats neonatal stress.