For Clinicians
The Nurture Science Program at Columbia University is currently testing the effectiveness of the Family Nurture Intervention through randomized clinical trials in preterm, late-preterm and full-term infants. We hope to promote the dramatic benefits of the Family Nurture Intervention in neonatal intensive care units around the country.
For Researchers
The Family Nurture Intervention can increase infant brain activity by 36% when the infants reach full term age. These increases correlate with better neurodevelopment later in life. Other important measures that improve with the intervention include heart rate, heart rate variability, respiration rate, cortisol levels, maternal caregiving behavior and maternal depression.
For Families
The Family Nurture Intervention (FNI) fosters emotional connectedness between parents and children that is crucial to physical and emotional development as well as to forming healthy relationships. FNI has shown positive results in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit), where early physical separation between the mother and infant can interrupt the biochemical, physiological and emotional processes critical to normal development.
The Nurture Science Program defines nurture as interactions that underlie emotional connection. These interactions include olfactory exchange, vocal soothing, comforting touch, eye contact, holding, and cuddling.
Latest Research and News
Colostrum Oxytocin Modulates Cellular Stress Response, Inflammation, and Autophagy Markers in Newborn Rat Gut Villi
The presence of the neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) in milk and its role in milk letdown are well known. Less known is the role of OT delivered in mothers' milk on newborn gut development.
Advances in family based-interventions in the neonatal ICU
Recent trials reviewed here find positive effects of a variety of family-related interventions focused on parental guidance. These interventions target prescribed physical activities with infants, parents’ stress, and the parents’ ability to recognize their positive and negative behaviors with their infants. Beneficial effects include reductions in parenting stress, maternal anxiety, and depression.
Advances in family based-interventions in the neonatal ICU
Recent trials reviewed here find positive effects of a variety of family-related interventions focused on parental guidance. These interventions target prescribed physical activities with infants, parents’ stress, and the parents’ ability to recognize their positive and negative behaviors with their infants. Beneficial effects include reductions in parenting stress, maternal anxiety, and depression.