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

doi:10.1038/jp.2014.43

. 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 Woodward¹, S Bora², C A C Clark³, A Montgomery-Hönger⁴, V E Pritchard⁵, C Spencer⁶, N C Austin⁷

Affiliations

¹ 1] Department of Pediatric Newborn Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA [2] Department of Psychology, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.
² Department of Pediatric Newborn Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
³ Department of Psychology, Prevention Science Institute, University of Oregon, OR, USA.
⁴ Department of Psychology, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.
⁵ Department of Psychology, Aberystwyth University, Ceredigion, Wales, UK.
⁶ Neonatal Service, Christchurch Women's Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand.
⁷ 1] Neonatal Service, Christchurch Women's Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand [2] Department of Pediatrics, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand.

PMID: 24651730
PMCID: PMC4154363
DOI: 10.1038/jp.2014.43

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

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

. 2014 Jul;34(7):555-61.

doi: 10.1038/jp.2014.43. Epub 2014 Mar 20.

Authors

L J Woodward¹, S Bora², C A C Clark³, A Montgomery-Hönger⁴, V E Pritchard⁵, C Spencer⁶, N C Austin⁷

Affiliations

¹ 1] Department of Pediatric Newborn Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA [2] Department of Psychology, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.
² Department of Pediatric Newborn Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
³ Department of Psychology, Prevention Science Institute, University of Oregon, OR, USA.
⁴ Department of Psychology, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.
⁵ Department of Psychology, Aberystwyth University, Ceredigion, Wales, UK.
⁶ Neonatal Service, Christchurch Women's Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand.
⁷ 1] Neonatal Service, Christchurch Women's Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand [2] Department of Pediatrics, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand.

PMID: 24651730
PMCID: PMC4154363
DOI: 10.1038/jp.2014.43

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.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

**Figure 1**
Sources of maternal stress in the NICU.

See this image and copyright information in PMC

Cited by

The effects of webcams on German neonatal intensive care units - study protocol of a randomised crossover trial (Neo-CamCare).
Scholten N, Bretthauer S, Eilermann K, Hagemeier A, Hellmich M, Hoffmann J, Horenkamp-Sonntag D, Jannes C, Kuntz L, Mantell P, Mause L, Müller A, Reimer A, Samel C, Spiecker Genannt Döhmann I, Wobbe-Ribinski S, Woopen C, Dresbach T. Scholten N, et al. BMC Health Serv Res. 2021 May 12;21(1):456. doi: 10.1186/s12913-021-06387-3. BMC Health Serv Res. 2021. PMID: 33980220 Free PMC article.
Increased Risk of Parental Instability for Children Born Very Preterm and Impacts on Neurodevelopmental Outcomes at Age 12.
Gath ME, Lee SJ, Austin NC, Woodward LJ. Gath ME, et al. Children (Basel). 2022 Feb 23;9(3):304. doi: 10.3390/children9030304. Children (Basel). 2022. PMID: 35327676 Free PMC article.
Parental stress, depression, anxiety and participation in care in neonatal intensive care unit: a cross-sectional study in Italy comparing mothers versus fathers.
Bua J, Dalena P, Mariani I, Girardelli M, Ermacora M, Manzon U, Plet S, Travan L, Lazzerini M. Bua J, et al. BMJ Paediatr Open. 2024 Apr 8;8(Suppl 2):e002429. doi: 10.1136/bmjpo-2023-002429. BMJ Paediatr Open. 2024. PMID: 38589039 Free PMC article.
Parents' and neonatal healthcare professionals' views on barriers and facilitators to parental presence in the neonatal unit: a qualitative study.
Schmid SV, Arnold C, Jaisli S, Bubl B, Harju E, Kidszun A. Schmid SV, et al. BMC Pediatr. 2024 Apr 24;24(1):268. doi: 10.1186/s12887-024-04758-3. BMC Pediatr. 2024. PMID: 38658901 Free PMC article.
Parent participation in the neonatal intensive care unit: Predictors and relationships to neurobehavior and developmental outcomes.
Pineda R, Bender J, Hall B, Shabosky L, Annecca A, Smith J. Pineda R, et al. Early Hum Dev. 2018 Feb;117:32-38. doi: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2017.12.008. Epub 2017 Dec 21. Early Hum Dev. 2018. PMID: 29275070 Free PMC article.

See all "Cited by" articles

References

1. Holditch-Davis D, Miles MS. Mothers' stories about their experiences in the neonatal intensive care unit. Neonatal Netw. 2000;19(3):13–21. - PubMed
1. Schappin R, Wijnroks L, Uniken Venema MM, Jongmans MJ. Rethinking stress in parents of preterm infants: a meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2013;8(2):e54992. - PMC - PubMed
1. Aucott S, Donohue PK, Atkins E, Allen MC. Neurodevelopmental care in the NICU. Ment Retard Dev Disabil Res Rev. 2002;8(4):298–308. - PubMed
1. Clark CA, Woodward LJ, Horwood LJ, Moor S. Development of emotional and behavioral regulation in children born extremely preterm and very preterm: biological and social influences. Child Dev. 2008;79(5):1444–1462. - PubMed
1. Frye RE, Malmberg B, Swank P, Smith K, Landry S. Preterm birth and maternal responsiveness during childhood are associated with brain morphology in adolescence. J Int Neuropsychol Soc. 2010;16(5):784–794. - PubMed

Publication types

Actions
Actions

MeSH terms

Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions
Actions

Grants and funding

P30 HD062171/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States

LinkOut - more resources

Full Text Sources
Other Literature Sources
- scite Smart Citations
Medical

[1] Holditch-Davis D, Miles MS. Mothers' stories about their experiences in the neonatal intensive care unit. Neonatal Netw. 2000;19(3):13–21. - PubMed

[2] Holditch-Davis D, Miles MS. Mothers' stories about their experiences in the neonatal intensive care unit. Neonatal Netw. 2000;19(3):13–21. - PubMed

[3] Schappin R, Wijnroks L, Uniken Venema MM, Jongmans MJ. Rethinking stress in parents of preterm infants: a meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2013;8(2):e54992. - PMC - PubMed

[4] Schappin R, Wijnroks L, Uniken Venema MM, Jongmans MJ. Rethinking stress in parents of preterm infants: a meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2013;8(2):e54992. - PMC - PubMed

[5] Aucott S, Donohue PK, Atkins E, Allen MC. Neurodevelopmental care in the NICU. Ment Retard Dev Disabil Res Rev. 2002;8(4):298–308. - PubMed

[6] Aucott S, Donohue PK, Atkins E, Allen MC. Neurodevelopmental care in the NICU. Ment Retard Dev Disabil Res Rev. 2002;8(4):298–308. - PubMed

[7] Clark CA, Woodward LJ, Horwood LJ, Moor S. Development of emotional and behavioral regulation in children born extremely preterm and very preterm: biological and social influences. Child Dev. 2008;79(5):1444–1462. - PubMed

[8] Clark CA, Woodward LJ, Horwood LJ, Moor S. Development of emotional and behavioral regulation in children born extremely preterm and very preterm: biological and social influences. Child Dev. 2008;79(5):1444–1462. - PubMed

[9] Frye RE, Malmberg B, Swank P, Smith K, Landry S. Preterm birth and maternal responsiveness during childhood are associated with brain morphology in adolescence. J Int Neuropsychol Soc. 2010;16(5):784–794. - PubMed

[10] Frye RE, Malmberg B, Swank P, Smith K, Landry S. Preterm birth and maternal responsiveness during childhood are associated with brain morphology in adolescence. J Int Neuropsychol Soc. 2010;16(5):784–794. - PubMed

Save citation to file

Email citation

Add to Collections

Add to My Bibliography

Your saved search

Create a file for external citation management software

Your RSS Feed

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

Affiliations

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

Authors

Affiliations

Abstract

Figures

Similar articles

Cited by

References

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding

LinkOut - more resources

Full Text Sources

Other Literature Sources

Medical

Abstract

Figures

Similar articles

Cited by

References

Publication types

MeSH terms

Related information

Grants and funding

LinkOut - more resources

Full Text Sources

Other Literature Sources

Medical