Prospective Randomized Observational Pilot Trial Evaluating the Effect of Information of Early Childhood Intervention on Stress Levels of Parents of Extremely Low Gestational Age Infants at the NICU.

It is not known to what extent early information on early childhood intervention (ECI) by ECI professionals reduces or increases stress levels of parents having an extremely preterm infant at the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Using an observational pilot study, we gave information on ECI in a randomized matter to parents of an extremely low gestational age newborn (ELGAN) at the chronological age of 3-4 weeks (cases) or not (controls). After informed consent, parents judged the infants at the age of 5-7 weeks with the Parental Stressor Scales: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit [PSS: NICU test has three subscales = "Sights and Sounds" (five items), "Parental Role Alteration" (14 items), and "Look and Behave" (seven items)].

Use of Acupuncture in an Infant with Restlessness and Agitation.

We are reporting here about a 3-month-old boy with a history of failure to thrive, hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy and neurological misbehaviour including hypotension in body muscles, who was found to have screaming attacks, agitation and restlessness. Body and ear acupuncture was used both as supporting and integrative therapy to reduce the phases of restlessness and screaming and, simultaneously, the use of hypnotic drugs, as well as to improve the baby’s thriving. Our case has proved that standardised ear and body acupuncture applied by trained acupuncturist paediatricians is a helpful non-pharmacological treatment tool.