Parental Perceptions on Antenatal Information About Extremely Preterm Birth: A Qualitative Study

Antenatal information is essential for families facing the possibility of an extremely preterm (EPT) birth. Their information needs are not always clear and communication can be challenging during this stressful, uncertain time. We explored parental perceptions about antenatal information provided during perinatal counselling about EPT births.

This Spanish qualitative study comprised parents of infants born between 23 + 0 and 26 + 6 weeks of gestation in 2023-2024, who received antenatal counselling in a tertiary setting. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 families after their infants were discharged from the neonatal intensive care unit. These were analysed using inductive thematic analysis, in which themes and subthemes were identified.

Four main themes emerged. These were: making sense of complex antenatal information, the key roles of context and communication style, emotional journeys around extreme prematurity and supporting better perinatal care. Satisfaction with counselling was generally high, but parents wanted more practical, empathic approaches that respected their individual values and supported their emotional needs. There were wide variations in the level of detail required.

Effective antenatal counselling about EPT births should empower parents by respecting their values, supporting their emotional needs and providing resources for informed decision-making.