Physiological responses and behavior of neonatal handling in neonatal intensive care unit

Abstract

In the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), the newborn (NB) receives emergency treatment as an attempt to improve their medical condition and there are several episodes of handling it. This research aimed at investigating the physiological and behavioral responses of newborns hospitalized in a NICU, and to propose a protocol for minimum handling of the NB in the NICU. It was an exploratory, descriptive, quantitative approach, performed in the NICU of a teaching hospital in Fortaleza, Ceará. There were samples of 26 NBs, and the data collection was performed in April 2010. It was found that the newborns had an average of eight physiological or behavioral responses. The main responses were: arching eyebrows, facial responses and increased muscle tone, which can pose to the newborn discomfort, dislocation and pain before the procedure. It was concluded that excessive handling alters the physiological and behavioral aspects of the newborn, so the protocol for minimum handling of the NB can be a strategy for maintaining the well-being.