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Premature Newborn Care: Developing Senses
Premature Newborn Care: Developing SensesSince the senses of taste and smell are the first to develop, you may notice your baby being drawn to the odorof your skin or mother's breast milk. While still in the womb, your baby's sense of hearing allowed him to hearrepetitive and rhythmic sounds like your heart beating. He also heard your voice, although it was muffled byamniotic fluid.Science has shown that parents' gentle coos and whispers help their fragile infants to experience morephysical stability. This is because, even though they sound different in the special care nursery, the tone andpattern of mothers' and fathers' voices are familiar to newborns.Your baby's sense of touch is already one of the important ways he experiences his world. Your finger tograsp, your firm and gentle containment will reassure her. While a fetus has many sensory experiences in thewomb, vision is not one of them. As with full term infants, your preemie’s sight is the last of her senses todevelop.Preterm infants are very sensitive to light and so it is important to protect your baby from direct light and tokeep her overall environment comfortably dark.As your baby grows in the nursery, as she begins to settle in and then explore her new world, you will beamazed by the ways she reveals her developing senses.This program is for informational purposes only. Publisher disclaims all guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness,or suitability of this video for medical decision making. For all health related issues please contact your healthcare provider.PRG10020B EN PrematureNewbornCareDevelopingSenses.pdf© The Wellness NetworkPage 1 of 1
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