Post-Care Positioning and Comfort in Late Preterm Infants

This study examined the comfort of late preterm infants (born at 34 0/7 to 36 6/7 weeks of gestation) placed in four positions after routine nursing care in a neonatal intensive care unit. After each of four night-time care episodes, every infant was placed sequentially in the supine, left lateral, right lateral and prone positions within a nest for 15 minutes each, and comfort was assessed with the Premature Infant Comfort Scale at the 1st, 5th and 15th minutes.

Inclusion Criteria: * Born at 34 0/7 to 36 6/7 weeks of gestation * No painful procedure in the 2 hours before positioning * No medication other than vitamin and mineral supplements * Written informed consent from a parent Exclusion Criteria: * Congenital anomaly * Metabolic disease * Mechanical ventilation * Umbilical catheter * Medication other than vitamin and mineral supplements * Need for a painful procedure during the observation period