Parents' first moments with their very preterm babies: a qualitative study

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Clinical Practice Protocol of Creative Music Therapy for Preterm Infants and Their Parents in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
11:50

Clinical Practice Protocol of Creative Music Therapy for Preterm Infants and Their Parents in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Published on: January 7, 2020

Leah Arnold1, Alexandra Sawyer, Heike Rabe

  • 1School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton, East Sussex, UK.

BMJ Open
|April 4, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Parents of very preterm infants experience a range of emotions and challenges during their first encounters with their babies and the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Understanding these experiences is crucial for providing effective family-centered care and support.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal care
  • Parental adaptation
  • Perinatal psychology

Background:

  • The initial experience of parents with very preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is critical for bonding and adaptation.
  • Limited understanding exists regarding the multifaceted emotional and psychological journey parents undertake during this vulnerable period.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore and describe the first experiences of parents with their very preterm infants and the NICU environment.
  • To identify key themes and challenges faced by parents during this critical time.

Main Methods:

  • A qualitative study employing semistructured interviews.
  • Conducted with 32 mothers and 7 fathers of very preterm infants (<32 weeks gestation) across three tertiary hospital neonatal units in South East England.

Main Results:

  • Parents reported blurred recall of birth and a 'rollercoaster' of emotions anticipating and experiencing their first sight and touch of their baby.
  • The NICU environment was often overwhelming, particularly for those without prior tours or who first saw their baby in the NICU.
  • Fathers frequently felt excluded and confused about their role, highlighting unique challenges.

Conclusions:

  • Findings underscore the importance of family-centered care, offering insights into parental needs during the NICU stay.
  • Clinical implications include the necessity of preparatory NICU tours for parents and actively including fathers in care and support.
  • Addressing parental emotional needs and facilitating bonding are vital for positive outcomes.
Abstract

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