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Updated: Aug 18, 2026

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
19:15

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale

Published on: August 25, 2014

Parenting the prematurely born child: pathways of influence

M S Miles1, D Holditch-Davis

  • 1Health of Women and Children Department, School of Nursing, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 27599-7460, USA.

Seminars in Perinatology
|June 1, 1997
PubMed

Insights

Parents of infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) face unique challenges. This review summarizes research on parental needs and suggests interventions for support during hospitalization and after discharge.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal care
  • Parental adaptation
  • Developmental psychology

Background:

  • Parents play a crucial role in the development of preterm infants.
  • Infant hospitalization in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) significantly impacts parents.
  • Understanding parental experiences is vital for effective infant care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To synthesize research on parental needs during infant NICU hospitalization.
  • To present a framework for understanding influences on parents of preterm infants.
  • To recommend clinical interventions for parental support.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of research spanning over two decades.
  • Synthesis of findings on parental experiences and needs.
  • Development of a conceptual framework.

Main Results:

  • Identified key stressors and needs of parents with hospitalized preterm infants.
  • Established a framework detailing factors influencing parental adaptation.
  • Highlighted the importance of early and ongoing support.

Conclusions:

  • Parental well-being is integral to successful infant outcomes.
  • Targeted interventions can mitigate the negative impacts of NICU hospitalization.
  • Continued research and clinical focus on parental support are essential.

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