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A subsample of 24 women who had received ultrasound examinations and psychological interviews during the third trimester of pregnancy was subsequently divided into one group who had reported pregnancy problems (marital difficulties and ambivalence about the child) and one group who had not. The mothers were then observed at 3 to 5 months postpartum in interactions with their infants and were given questionnaires on depression, anxiety, locus of control, temperament, and childrearing attitudes. The mothers who had experienced pregnancy problems were more depressed, anxious, and "externalizing" postpartum and expressed more punitive childrearing attitudes. In addition, these "depressed" mothers and their infants showed less optimal interaction behaviors.

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Tactile/kinesthetic stimulation was given to 20 preterm neonates (mean gestational age, 31 weeks; mean birth weight, 1,280 g; mean time in neonatal intensive care unit, 20 days) during transitional ("grower") nursery care, and their growth, sleep-wake behavior, and Brazelton scale performance was compared with a group of 20 control neonates. The tactile/kinesthetic stimulation consisted of body stroking and passive movements of the limbs for three, 15-minute periods per day for a 10 days. The stimulated neonates averaged a 47% greater weight gain per day (mean 25 g v 17 g), were more active and alert during sleep/wake behavior observations, and showed more mature habituation, orientation, motor, and range of state behavior on the Brazelton scale than control infants. Finally, their hospital stay was 6 days shorter, yielding a cost savings of approximately $3,000 per infant. These data suggest that tactile/kinesthetic stimulation may be a cost effective way of facilitating growth and behavioral organization even in very small preterm neonates.