We found a match
Your institution may have rights to this item. Sign in to continue.
- Title
Getting a grip in the middle of chaos: Preparing for preterm parenthood during a high‐risk pregnancy – Parental experiences and needs.
- Authors
Ruhe, Kiki; van den Hoogen, Agnes; Bröring‐Starre, Tinka; Wielenga, Joke M.; van Weissenbruch, Mirjam M.
- Abstract
Aim: Admitting an infant to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is stressful for parents. A great source of stress is the loss of their desired parental role. This study explores parents' experiences and needs during a high‐risk pregnancy in preparation for their role as parents of a preterm infant. Methods: An exploratory qualitative study was conducted among parents with a preterm infant admitted to two level‐III NICUs in the Netherlands. A thematic analysis was performed. Results: Nineteen interviews were conducted with parents of preterm infants (26–34 weeks gestational age). Getting a grip in the middle of chaos was identified as the central theme. In the pre‐admission phase, coping with potential preterm parenthood was a theme, with coping strategies as subthemes that changed over time from avoidance to being ready to parent a preterm infant. The theme envisioning the NICU emerged in the NICU admission phase, with subthemes preterm care journey and opportunities for involvement fostering parental empowerment. Conclusion: Timing and content of information about a parental role in the NICU should be tailored to the individual expectant parent. A customisable intervention bundle may provide a vision of the NICU and the parents' active role in care.
- Subjects
NETHERLANDS; HIGH-risk pregnancy; NEONATAL intensive care units; EXPECTANT parents; PARENTHOOD; PREMATURE infants
- Publication
Acta Paediatrica, 2022, Vol 111, Issue 7, p1324
- ISSN
0803-5253
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/apa.16361