Current estimates are that more than one-third of the annual neonatal deaths worldwide occur in humanitarian and fragile settings (United Nations Population Fund 2015). In this article, we focus on the recent multistakeholder effort to produce the "Roadmap to Accelerate Progress for Every Newborn in Fragile and Humanitarian Settings…

Most people have 23 pairs of chromosomes; one set from the mother and one from the father. However, nondisjunction errors during meiosis can lead to a case of trisomy, where there are three rather than two chromosomes. Although such events are not uncommon, they are usually lethal, and account for a high proportion of spontaneous abortions. There…

This paper contextualises Bick's contribution historically, particularly in relation to Winnicott's work which challenged the Kleinian tradition to provide a developmental account of psychotic phenomena that would give a role to environmental factors. A difference in emphasis between Bick's early and later account of the functions of the skin in…

Argues for an interactionist model of the relation between cognition and motivation in early infancy. (Author/SS)

Suggests toys and materials for changing the environment to keep babies interested in it. (CM)

Reviews prenatal and postnatal methods of gestational age estimation and evaluates implementation of this information in research. Recommendations concerning the assignment of gestational age in the perinatal period and the use of age correction for preterm infants are offered. (Author/BC)

This paper discusses the beginnings of post-natal psychic life, what constitutes the ordinary state of unintegration in the neonate, the nature of the baby's ego, and the clinical relevance of these questions. It is argued that an infant's state of passive unintegration in which the object functions as a "skin" to bind together the parts of the…

Research on perceptual and cognitive capacities of the newborn has revealed that state variables typically interfere with or override the neonate's attentional and stimulus processing tendencies. This finding argues for the power of early state variables as behavioral determinants and, further, that neonatal state measures might provide good…

This paper, supporting father involvement in pregnancy, birth, and infant care, recommends that the father 1) acknowledge and accept the emotional impact of pregnancy and share this with his mate, and 2) mentally visualize himself in childbearing and childrearing roles. It suggests that multiple benefits accrue to all involved when the father…

Responds to Worobey and Brazelton's commentary on the author's assessment of a Brazelton-based newborn intervention by addressing two issues: (1) what the literature indicates with respect to this intervention technique, and (2) the significance of the process by which interventions are implemented. (HOD)

Criticizes Lester, Als, and Brazelton's 1982 reanalysis of data presented by Scanlon, Nelson, Grylack, and Smith in 1979. Discusses (1) clinical interpretation of the ponderal index (a weight-for-length ratio); and (2) inaccurate measurement of crown-heel length; (3) Lester et al.'s suggested relationship between the ponderal index, maternal drug,…

Replies to Scanlon's criticism of Lester, Als, and Brazelton's 1982 reanalysis of Scanlon, Nelson, Grylack, and Smith's 1979 data. Discusses the accuracy and interpretation of the ponderal index, reiterating that Lester et al. suggested a hypothesis, not a proof, that low birth weight, combined with maternal obstetric drugs, negatively affects…

Recent reports have indicated that parents and/or physicians occasionally decide not to provide life-sustaining treatment (referred to as involuntary euthanasia), thus ensuring that the severely handicapped newborn will die. The issues involved relative to treatment or involuntary euthanasia are reviewed from two opposing perspectives…

The decision-making process in treatment questions for seriously ill and handicapped neonates must focus on the best interests of the individual infant and maintain the responsibility for pursuing that interest within the parent-physician relationship. This goal is best served by mandating the development of policies for decision making and…

This paper offers six guidelines to facilitate parent-professional partnerships in neonatal intensive care units and early intervention settings. The guidelines emphasize the need to individualize practices to match parent needs; involve parents; support, trust, and respect parents; adopt a strengths-based perspective; understand parents' and…