The DSC Foundation, officially named the Development and Supportive Care (DSC) Foundation for Newborn & Children (India) was established by Dr Amitava Sengupta in the year 2014.
It focuses on promoting optimal brain and neurobehavioral development and well-being of newborns, particularly preterm and critically ill infants in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).
It focuses on evidence-based DSC interventions designed to minimize stress of the NICU environment on newborns, by creating a womb-like environment in the NICU by controlling light and sound, and promoting skin-to-skin contact.
Key aspects of the DSC Foundation and its work: Under the leadership of founder member, Dr. Amitava Sengupta, the DSC Foundation works to educate and train Neonatal Caregivers and associated healthcare professionals in DSC practices and strategies for neuroprotection in NICUs (neonatal intensive care units) across India and overseas.
Evidence-based practices: The foundation promotes interventions like controlling auditory, visual, and tactile stimuli, clustering nursing care to avoid disrupting sleep, and using techniques like swaddling and calming to support the infant's development.
Practices like protected sleep, pain and stress management, developmental positioning, optimizing nutrition and family-centred care are among key core measures of a DSC Program.
NICU environment: DSC practices are particularly relevant in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), where the environment can be stressful for vulnerable infants.
Improved outcomes: By minimizing stress and promoting optimal development, DSC interventions can lead to better short-term and long-term health outcomes, including improved neurodevelopment.
The foundation's work aligns with the broader advancements in neonatology and raising awareness about importance of DSC and neuroprotection in improving newborn outcomes that have led to significant reductions in neonatal and infant morbidity and mortality rates.
Training Neonatal Caregivers: The foundation conducts workshops and training programs for neonatal caregivers (doctors and NICU nursing staff) across India and overseas, to disseminate knowledge and best practices in DSC. It also provides resources and tools, such as DSC textbooks, workbooks and educational material to enhance the training and implementation of DSC.
Pioneering Research and Innovation: Dr. Amitava Sengupta, a key figure in the foundation, is recognized for his pioneering research and contributions to DSC in India.
The foundation is involved in research and knowledge translation related to DSC, including the development of evidence-based protocols and the introduction of innovative concepts like "Octopus Mother Care (OMC)".
It has coined the term "Octopus Mother Care" (OMC-trademarked) to describe a specific DSC technique involving a therapeutic octopus’ toy simulating maternal presence for preterm infants to promote a sense of safety, comfort and bonding with improved self-regulation.
Standardizing DSC practices: The DSC Foundation strives to improve the overall quality of care for newborns by promoting a culture of standardized developmentally supportive care and neuroprotection strategies across NICUs in India and beyond.
DSC accreditation system: The foundation has also evolved a robust DSC accreditation system which involves specific processes with mandatory criteria and protocols which need to be fulfilled. Neonatal units can apply and prepare for the same.
After inspection and examination of the unit by an appointed National DSC Faculty team, a report cum result is prepared and submitted to governing body of DSC Foundation (India), for final certification and DSC Accreditation.
Collaboration and Outreach:
The DSC Foundation collaborates with various hospitals, institutions and organizations (example, IAP & NNF) to implement DSC practices, train neonatal caregivers and hold DSC awareness programs.
Focus on “Intact Survival”
The DSC Foundation team has been promoting DSC practices in neonatal units across India and overseas and aims to achieve the “Gold Standard of INTACT SURVIVAL” for preterm, fragile and critically ill infants.
In essence, the DSC Foundation is dedicated to ensuring that all newborns, especially the preterm and/or critically ill newborns, have the best possible start in life through the implementation of developmentally supportive care practices and strategies for neuroprotection in the NICU.
The field of Neonatology (Newborn Medicine) has experienced some remarkable progress over the last four decades in care of the newborn. This has reflected with dramatic reductions in both neonatal and infant mortality and has enabled the neonatal team to save more babies of lower gestational age and extremely low birth weight (ELBW). In the present times, the incidence of prematurity is high in both western and eastern worlds. However, morbidity rate of neurodevelopmental impairment has not decreased for this population.
The preterm infant experiences a hostile environment in the intensive care (NICU) setting as compared to the womb, which is challenging to the immature homeostatic mechanisms of a preterm baby. This altered sensory experience can have a negative impact on an infant’s brain development.
The in-utero environment of a developing fetus is characterized by generalized extremity flexion and containment, limited light and noise exposure, sleep cycle preservation, and unrestricted access to mother via somatosensory, auditory, and chemosensory pathways. This environment is favorable for positive sensory input which is crucial for normal fetal brain development.
It is increasingly clear that newborn babies respond to and are affected by the environment around them. Compared with the womb, even in the best designed modern Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), a newborn preterm infant is deprived of the basic developmental needs. . This environment is typically characterized by painful procedures, excessive light and noise exposure, interrupted and inadequate sleep, and separation from mother. Negative replaces positive sensory input into the developing fetal brain which, as research shows, can permanently alter normal brain development.
It is the duty of all neonatal practitioners to minimize exposure to noxious and painful stimuli and reduce psychological disturbance to the baby during a time of rapid brain development and to support the whole family in adapting to their circumstances in order to promote the best long-term outcome.
All units involved with the care of sick infants should also develop strategies to promote the attachment of parents to their sick infants . A good parent – infant attachment has been shown to produce both short term and long-term benefits in terms of physical and neurodevelomental outcomes.
Developmentally Supportive Care (DSC) practices are evidence-based interventions that promote newborn brain and neurobehavioral development. They involve a broad category of interventions designed to minimize the stress of the NICU environment and include elements such as control of external stimuli (auditory, visual, tactile, vestibular), clustering of nursing care activities to avoid disrupting sleep, positioning or swaddling of the preterm infant and calming techniques. The goal is to provide a structured care environment which supports, encourages and guides the developmental organization of the premature and/or critically ill infant.
As neonatal care providers Our Goal Should Be To Improve Functional Outcome, Have Positive Neuro Developmental Outcome And Achieve The Gold Standard Of “INTACT SURVIVAL” Of The Preterm, Fragile And/Or Critically Ill Infants.