Development of twin children as a function of zygosity and perinatal parameters

Abstract

The rate of prematurity is higher among twin newborns when compared to those born from a single pregnancy. Prospective studies of children's development as a function of conditions observed early in twin newborns (NB) are a relevant topic for empirical research, but there is a lack of Brazilian research on this subject. This Scientific Initiation research is related to Subprojects P5: Physical and behavioral development of twin infants and P7 - Acoustic production and prosodic structure of cries of human and non-human mammalian offspring of the Thematic Project "USP Panel of Twins: Research on Behavior, Health and Well-Being of Twins", FAPESP Process nº 2022/02107-6. The objectives of the research, which will be the responsibility of the IC scholar, are to observe twin NBs in the HCFMUSP Joint Accommodation, recording: (a) their behavioral states, (b) expressive behavior (crying, smiling) and (c) receptive communication (tactile and facial). We expect prematurity to influence the analyzed parameters of expressive and receptive communication, with an inverse association between degree of prematurity and receptive communication indicators. With regard to spontaneous smiles, however, the literature leads us to expect the opposite, since there is evidence of more smiles in single preterm NBs than in single term NBs. Data will be collected in the rooming-in unit. Using a spreadsheet provided by HCFMUSP, we will have access to information on the characteristics of the pregnancy and the birth of the newborns.