TY - JOUR AU - Welch, Martha G. AU - Hofer, Myron A. AU - Brunelli, Susan A. AU - Stark, Raymond I. AU - Andrews, Howard F. AU - Austin, Judy AU - Myers, Michael M. AU - the Family Nurture Intervention (FNI) Trial Group PY - 2012 DA - 2012/02/07 TI - Family nurture intervention (FNI): methods and treatment protocol of a randomized controlled trial in the NICU JO - BMC Pediatrics SP - 14 VL - 12 IS - 1 AB - The stress that results from preterm birth, requisite acute care and prolonged physical separation in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) can have adverse physiological/psychological effects on both the infant and the mother. In particular, the experience compromises the establishment and maintenance of optimal mother-infant relationship, the subsequent development of the infant, and the mother's emotional well-being. These findings highlight the importance of investigating early interventions that are designed to overcome or reduce the effects of these environmental insults and challenges. SN - 1471-2431 UR - https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2431-12-14 DO - 10.1186/1471-2431-12-14 ID - Welch2012 ER -