Biobehavioral Responses of Preterm Infants to Conventional and Swaddled Tub Baths: A Randomized Crossover Trial.

Bathing is a routine care procedure that exposes preterm infants to prolonged handling, which could cause stress and potentially disrupt infants' biobehavioral responses. The aim of this double-blind randomized crossover trial was to compare the preterm infant's body temperature, heart rate (HR), peripheral capillary oxygen saturation (SpO2), salivary cortisol levels, and sleep-wake states during and after swaddled and conventional tub baths. Forty-three infants born at 32 to 36 weeks postmenstrual age, weighing 2225 g or less, were enrolled in the study. Infants were videotaped before and after each type of baths. The time interval between baths ranged from 24 to 72 hours to allow a washout period. Physiological, hormonal, and behavioral responses were collected at baseline and during recovery from baths. No significant differences in the mean body temperature, HR, SpO2, salivary cortisol levels, and sleep-wake states between the bath types were observed in the baseline or recovery responses during the first 20 minutes after bath. Regardless of bath type, salivary cortisol levels showed a nonstatistical significant increase.

Bad thoughts: Brazilian women's responses to mothering while experiencing postnatal depression.

OBJECTIVE: this study explores Brazilian women's experiences of mothering of their infants while experiencing postnatal depression. DESIGN: a cross-language qualitative descriptive design. METHOD: the sample was composed of 15 women diagnosed with postnatal depression in a psychiatric institute in São Paulo, Brazil. Open-ended interviews were conducted and the data underwent thematic analysis. RESULTS: 13 women worried that harm would come to their infants. Seven of these women self-identified as potential sources of harm, with two women physically hurting their infants. The remaining six women worried about unknown agents, such as disease, hurting their infants. In response to these bad thoughts, women mothered their infants in one of four ways: (1) transferred care, completely delegating this task to family members; (2) shared care, asking family members to share the responsibility; (3) sole care, having to look after their infants by themselves because they had no available family support; (4) and smother care, being hyper-vigilant, constantly watching their infants and not trusting infant care to anyone else. CONCLUSIONS: the bad thoughts influenced the women's adaptation to mothering their infants. Health professionals should assess these thoughts early in the postnatal period and the women's mothering responses for the protection of mother and child.

[Let them speak for themselves: reports from professionals about their experiences in therapeutic residency training]. / Que eles falem por si: relatos dos profissionais sobre a experiência nas residências terapêuticas.

This paper deals with qualitative research conducted in the Therapeutic Residency Service in the municipality of Campina Grande, State of Paraíba, Brazil, the objective being to ascertain the difficulties encountered by the professionals in the healthcare practices defined by the aforementioned service and identify the prospects identified by them for the residents. A semi-structured interview routine was conducted with ten professionals for the data collection, along with analysis of field records and systematic observation. The main difficulties faced are of a structural nature, namely lack of human resources and/or training and social support. Social reintegration, insertion in the workplace and autonomy are the expectations singled out by the professionals. In light of the results, it can be affirmed that, in spite of the difficulties experienced, it is possible to see progress, such as the autonomy of some residents. Nevertheless, as it is a recent service, it needs to be constantly evaluated.