Other contributing factors

  • During pre-natal development, the fetus is also organizing and practicing skills that will improve a neonate's ability to meet the physiological and behavioural demands of transitioning from pre- to post-natal life. 
PRIMARY SKILLS

  • These primary skills are absent, reduced or inconsistent in pre-term infants. In addition, seizures are also frequent in pre-term infants, which further disorganizes breathing, sucking and swallowing behaviours.
NEONATAL SEIZURES