Very low birth weight and "dissociation of maturation": the hazards of the sensori-motor development.
"Very low birth weight" and "Dissociation of Maturation" are two conditions with great impact on the sensori-motor development. Data from our own research into the development of VLBW infants, clinical experience and insight, taken from the scientific literature, are the starting-point for intellectual reflexion on the significance of motor development for the sense of competence, growing autonomy, vigor and vitality. Moreover, the muscle tone of the infant has a profound impact on the mother-infant relationship: especially the holding function of the mother and the playful togetherness between baby and care-giver. "Anticipatory guidance" for mother and infants, by professionals, should be based on firm knowledge of neuromotor growth. "Prone progression", truncal balance and upright posture are of the utmost importance even for psychological individuation.
De Raeymaecker
D M
DM
Department of Child Psychiatry, Sophia Children's Hospital, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000523:psychology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011187:Posture; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*