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. 2014 Jul;34(7):555-61.
doi: 10.1038/jp.2014.43. Epub 2014 Mar 20.

Very preterm birth: maternal experiences of the neonatal intensive care environment

L J Woodward  1 , S Bora  2 , C A C Clark  3 , A Montgomery-Hönger  4 , V E Pritchard  5 , C Spencer  6 , N C Austin  7
Affiliations

Very preterm birth: maternal experiences of the neonatal intensive care environment

L J Woodward et al. J Perinatol. 2014 Jul.

Abstract

Objective: Examine sources, predictors and child outcomes associated with neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)-related stress for mothers of infants born very preterm (VPT).

Study design: Participants were 133 mothers of VPT infants admitted to a regional level-III NICU. At term equivalent, mothers completed the Parental Stressor Scale: NICU and were interviewed about their psychological well-being and family circumstances. Infant clinical data were also collected. At corrected age 4 years, 49 children were assessed for cognition, language and socio-emotional development.

Result: Mothers reported moderate to low stress, with parental role alteration considered most stressful and parent-staff communications least stressful. Predictors of overall stress included maternal educational underachievement, stressful life events, postnatal depression and infant unsettled-irregular behavior. NICU-related stress was associated with child anxiety and poorer language development.

Conclusion: Parental well-being is an important focus of care in the neonatal setting. Strategies are needed to optimize early engagement and reduce stress levels to assist improved child outcomes.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Sources of maternal stress in the NICU.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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