Newborns, Preterms, and Low Weight Infants

In US average is 20 inches long and 7.5 pounds (5.5 - 10lb range)
Distinct features:
* Large head , Fontanels- soft spot
* Red skin thin skin (capillaries), often temporary skin conditions, birthmarks, “stork bite”
Newborn Capabilities: the baby can see, hear, touch, taste, and smell.

Although the newborn’s senses become functional before birth, they have a limited capacity to process information from the environment.
They have a set of infant states to help them regulate the level of stimulation they receive.
There are two sleep states (quiet sleep and active sleep) and four awake states (drowsy, quiet alert, active alert, and crying).
Most newborns experience a period of quiet alertness shortly after birth.

Babies born prematurely (<37 wks) or at a low birth weight (<5.8 lb) are significant risk factors.
* Indicates that something has restricted the infant’s physical growth in the prenatal environment.
While complex, several known factors increase the risk.
  * Having had a previous preterm birth; carrying twins, triplets, or more babies
  * Unhealthy maternal behaviors such as smoking, drinking, or using drugs while pregnant
  * Being obese or underweight
  * Having an untreated medical condition such as high blood pressure or diabetes
As a group, preterm and low birth weight infants have more health and developmental problems.
  * Cannot regulate bodily functions, overwhelmed by stimuli, noisy environments, and lights
  * Sucking and gag reflex may be underdeveloped in preterm babies
  * Low birth weight infants are at greater risk for developing breathing problems, asthma, learning disability, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorders

How well preterm babies develop also has a great deal to do with the parent–child relationship.
* Preterm babies may be ultra sensitive, less responsive, and irritable, which can lead parents to be less sensitive and responsive in caring for them.
* Preterm babies as a group are at risk for child abuse, especially when they are born to isolated, poverty-stricken mothers.
Intensive enrichment programs can improve outcomes.
* Two most popular intervention programs are kangaroo care (skin to skin) and massage therapy.