Family Intervention Programs Supporting Parasympathetic System in Preterm Infants : Analysis of the Programs’ Consistency with the Polyvagal Theory

Preterm birth is defined as a birth that occurs before the 37th week of gestation, as a result infants are born before their full maturation. Preterm infants encounter unique developmental challenges as a result of their early exposure to stressors related to physiological interventions, sensory overload from the multiple stimulation sources surrounding them inside neonatal intensive care units (NICU), and separation from their parents. This thesis explores, through the lens of the Polyvagal Theory, how developmental and family-centered care programs in NICUs contribute to the regulation of autonomic responses in preterm infants. The Polyvagal Theory highlights how the autonomic nervous system reacts to stress and safety, and by implementing interventions such as parental involvement, individualized sensory modulation, and nurturing care environments, it impacts preterm infants' autonomic regulation, growth, neurodevelopment, bonding, and long term health. The findings of these programs demonstrate the importance of early interventions that promote parasympathetic regulation and the positive impact in the overall growth and wellbeing of the preterm infant, emphasizing the role of developmental and family-centered care interventions in their early life.