PT 861 - The High Risk Infant
Principle #1: (continued)
- With any plan of care, it is important that the the signs of stress in an infant be closely monitored and respected. This means that non-essential care, such as bathing, can be organized around the infant's own schedule and carried out in a way that minimizes undesired handling.
- An infant that welcomes an interaction will shown positive 'approach' signs:
- animated facial expression and brightening of eyes
- cooing and smiling
- hand-to-mouth activity
- minimal movements that are smoothed
- well-regulated muscle tone and smooth respiration
- In
contrast, an infant seeking to avoid stimulation and contact will display a
range of physiological and behavioural indicators stress:
- color change and cyanosis
- change in respiratory rate or rhythm
- change in heart rate
- coughing, sneezing, yawning, vomiting, hiccups and bowel movement
- sudden change in muscle tone
- stiffness, including leg bracing, finger splaying, facial grimacing, tongue extension and hyperflexion
- alterations in the quality of movement, including disorganized movement, jitteriness and squirminess
- What can be done to assist in calming the infant?
- positioning the infant in flexion (known as nesting)
- slow rocking
- swaddling
- quiet voice