The presentation began with descriptions of the various transitions the infant and family experience.  We were reminded that even if a transition is a 'good' one, that there can still be stress involved.  We were also provided with examples of how transitions can, on many fronts, be vague and supports must be fluid in order to best meet current needs.  The presentation continued with a discussion and elaboration of the needs of premature infants.  These basic needs are: feeding, sleep, self-regulation, social interactions, motor development, and infection control.

Ms. Redd elaborated on each of these needs as well as the concerns associated with each need.  She offered several activities and other tools to support 'success' in each of these spheres when working with premature infants and their families. 

The session concluded with needs of families and recommendations for services needed after hospital discharge.  This section was especially of interest to me since it included concrete methods to directly help the families and thereby indirectly help the premature babies.  The needs of families include emotional responses and support networks, shift of trust from hospital to community providers, and compensatory parenting.  Services need to include consultations and anticipatory guidance, observation and mentoring, initial home visits, and coordination of services.

With the growing number of premature infants and the realization that each of these children and their families will transition from hospital to home, this teleconference was both timely and very applicable to those of us who work with this population.  Those of us without much previous experience working with premature infants and their families were provided many useful 'tricks' of the trade while those of us with previous experience in this realm were reminded of some of the considerations that we need to best work with premature infants and their families after the transition from hospital to home.