Marilyn Sanders, pediatrician and neonatologist, introduces us to her powerful book, which offers readers both a meditation on caregiving and a call to action for physicians, educators, and mental health providers.
At its heart, polyvagal theory describes how the brain’s unconscious sense of safety or danger impacts our emotions and behaviours.
When children don’t have safe relationships, or emotional, medical, or physical traumas punctuate their lives, their ability to love, trust, and thrive is damaged. Children who have multiple relationship disruptions may have physical, behavioural, or mental health concerns that follow them into adulthood.
By attending to the lessons of polyvagal theory that adult caregivers must be aware of children’s unconscious processing of sensory information the authors show how professionals can play a critical role in establishing a sense of safety even in the face of dangerous, and sometimes incomprehensibly scary, situations.
Marilyn shares her background as a pediatrician and neonatologist, and her journey in discovering Polyvagal Theory. She explains how the theory resonated with her work in enhancing the safety and security of hospitalised babies.
She discusses her collaboration with Steve Porges, the creator of Polyvagal Theory, and Deb Dana, a clinician who applies the theory in clinical settings. She mentions how these collaborations shaped her understanding and application of the theory.
Marilyn’s book is structured to cover the theory from a developmental standpoint, looking at applications in pregnancy, early infancy, toddlerhood, and preschool age. It also discusses disruptions of connectedness and applications in medicine, mental health, and education. It includes a chapter on COVID-19, written during the height of the pandemic, to address the unique challenges and disruptions caused by the pandemic.
The talk explains the concept of safety from a neurobiologic perspective, emphasising the evolutionary biology of vertebrates and the development of social engagement in mammals.
Marilyn discusses the different types of stress that babies can experience, including positive stress, moderate stress, and toxic stress. She emphasises the importance of supportive caregiving in managing stress. Special attention is given to the vulnerabilities of preterm babies, particularly the underdeveloped ventral vagus, which affects their ability to engage socially and respond to their environment.
Marilyn shares her experiences in applying Polyvagal Theory principles in the NICU, focusing on keeping babies and their families together, supporting parents, and addressing the challenges faced by preterm babies.
