“NEST” IMPROVES MOVEMENTS OF PRETERM INFANTS

Key words: Preterm infant, Nest, Spontaneous movements, Posture

Fragile and unstable preterm infants are exposed in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) to a non-optimal physiological environment and to invasive procedures and handling, which may induce pain and stress. One of the major aims of Individualized Developmental Care is to promote age-adequate postures, thereby reducing the distressing conditions of extrauterine life of preterm infants which may have negative effects on the immature brain. The “nest”, adopted by most Italian NICUs, aims at stabilising body posture and promoting movements towards the body, thus facilitating rest periods and sleep.