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Brazilian Journal of Clinical Medicine and Review

Original research

Vol. 3 No. 1 (2025): January/December - 2025

Effects of Sensory-Motor Stimulation by the Padovan® Method on Weight Gain in Premature Infants Weighing Less than 1,500g

DOI
https://doi.org/10.52600/2965-0968.bjcmr.2025.3.1.bjcmr12
Submitted
June 7, 2024
Published
2024-08-09

Abstract

An observational analytical retrospective study was conducted to assess the efficacy of the Padovan® Method in promoting weight gain in very low birth weight premature infants. The study took place at a hospital and maternity ward in the Cariri region between 2020 and 2023. The sample included premature infants weighing less than 1500g admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Data were correlated with the scientific literature using descriptors such as “early stimulation,” “sensory-motor stimulation,” “very low birth weight,” and “premature infant”.The study involved 34 premature infants with gestational ages between 25 and 34 weeks and 5 days, all with very low birth weight and hemodynamically stable. These patients received a minimum fluid intake of 180 mL/kg/day for at least 14 days without sensory-motor stimulation. After this period, the Padovan® Method was applied until hospital discharge or until the newborns reached 1700g. A comparative analysis of weight gain before and after the application of the method revealed that 82.3% of the patients showed significant weight gain, while 17.6% did not show significant changes. The Padovan® Method may be an effective tool for promoting weight gain in premature infants, contributing to faster clinical improvement and reduced hospitalization time.

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