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First-time events between parents and preterm infants are affected by the designs and routines of neonatal intensive care units

Baylis, Rebecca ; Ewald, Uwe ; Gradin, Maria ; Nyqvist, Kerstin Hedberg ; Rubertsson, Christine LU and Blomqvist, Ylva Thernström (2014) In Acta Paediatrica, International Journal of Paediatrics 103(10). p.1045-1052
Abstract

Aim: Early parental bonding with preterm babies is particularly important, and the aim of our study was to explore when parents experienced what they regarded as important events for the first time while their infant was in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Methods: The study was part of a longitudinal project on Kangaroo Mother Care at two Swedish university hospitals. The parents of 81 infants completed questionnaires during their infants' hospital stay. Results: Most parents saw and touched their infants immediately after birth, but only a few could hold them skin to skin or swaddle them. Other important events identified by parents included the first time they performed care giving activities and did so independently,... (More)

Aim: Early parental bonding with preterm babies is particularly important, and the aim of our study was to explore when parents experienced what they regarded as important events for the first time while their infant was in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Methods: The study was part of a longitudinal project on Kangaroo Mother Care at two Swedish university hospitals. The parents of 81 infants completed questionnaires during their infants' hospital stay. Results: Most parents saw and touched their infants immediately after birth, but only a few could hold them skin to skin or swaddle them. Other important events identified by parents included the first time they performed care giving activities and did so independently, interaction and closeness with the infant, signs of the infant's recovery and integration into the family. The timing of the events depended on the physical design of the NICU, whether parents' could stay with their infant round-the-clock and when they were allowed to provide care under supervision and on their own. Conclusion: The design and routines of the NICU dictated when parents first interacted with their infants. Clinical guidelines that facilitate early contact with preterm babies can help parents to make the transition to their parental role.

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author
; ; ; ; and
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
keywords
Caregiving routines, Family-centred care, Kangaroo Mother Care, Neonatal intensive care unit, Parental role
in
Acta Paediatrica, International Journal of Paediatrics
volume
103
issue
10
pages
8 pages
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • scopus:84907861937
  • pmid:24923236
ISSN
0803-5253
DOI
10.1111/apa.12719
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
de8dd8ad-0035-4ef3-a02d-805bbfae9777
date added to LUP
2017-10-27 13:48:01
date last changed
2024-04-28 22:21:00
@article{de8dd8ad-0035-4ef3-a02d-805bbfae9777,
  abstract     = {{<p>Aim: Early parental bonding with preterm babies is particularly important, and the aim of our study was to explore when parents experienced what they regarded as important events for the first time while their infant was in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Methods: The study was part of a longitudinal project on Kangaroo Mother Care at two Swedish university hospitals. The parents of 81 infants completed questionnaires during their infants' hospital stay. Results: Most parents saw and touched their infants immediately after birth, but only a few could hold them skin to skin or swaddle them. Other important events identified by parents included the first time they performed care giving activities and did so independently, interaction and closeness with the infant, signs of the infant's recovery and integration into the family. The timing of the events depended on the physical design of the NICU, whether parents' could stay with their infant round-the-clock and when they were allowed to provide care under supervision and on their own. Conclusion: The design and routines of the NICU dictated when parents first interacted with their infants. Clinical guidelines that facilitate early contact with preterm babies can help parents to make the transition to their parental role.</p>}},
  author       = {{Baylis, Rebecca and Ewald, Uwe and Gradin, Maria and Nyqvist, Kerstin Hedberg and Rubertsson, Christine and Blomqvist, Ylva Thernström}},
  issn         = {{0803-5253}},
  keywords     = {{Caregiving routines; Family-centred care; Kangaroo Mother Care; Neonatal intensive care unit; Parental role}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{10}},
  number       = {{10}},
  pages        = {{1045--1052}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Acta Paediatrica, International Journal of Paediatrics}},
  title        = {{First-time events between parents and preterm infants are affected by the designs and routines of neonatal intensive care units}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/apa.12719}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/apa.12719}},
  volume       = {{103}},
  year         = {{2014}},
}