The Experiences of Parent Dyads in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Qualitative Description

Background The hospitalization of an infant in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is a distressing and often unexpected event for parents. Parents have risk for depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress, which can adversely impact them and their relationship. The hospitalization and subsequent stress may affect parents' capability to connect with and parent their child. Purpose Describe parents' experiences and ability to cope with the NICU; identify experiential and coping differences between mothers and fathers; examine the effect of the NICU hospitalization on the parent dyad relationship. Methods A qualitative descriptive design with dyadic interviews examined parents' experiences and coping skills, and subsequent effects on the parental relationship. Data collection continued until saturation was achieved and no new themes emerged. Through content analysis, an accurate description of parents' experiences in the NICU was rendered. Findings Nine themes from eight dyad interviews emerged and were categorized within the six domains of the transactional theory of stress and coping. The major themes were: Deeply Distressing, Unexpected and Unprepared, Expecting to Hear and Be Heard, Becoming Parents, Stronger Together, Support is Key, Parents Want Better Communication, and Adjusting to the NICU. Implications for practice Support from professionals and family, and clear and consistent communication from the treatment team helped alleviate parents' anxiety about their infant. Implications for research Research regarding the impact of a NICU hospitalization on the relationship between parent dyad members, specifically longitudinal studies, may lead to a better understanding of the long-term effects of this specific stressor on parents.