Objective To compare healthcare use and parent health-related quality of life (HRQL) in 3 groups of infants whose neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) discharge was delayed by oral feedings.Study design This was a prospective, single-center cohort of infants in the NICU from September 2018 to March 2020. After enrollment, weekly chart review determined eligibility for home nasogastric (NG) feeds based on predetermined criteria. Actual discharge feeding decisions were at clinical discretion. At 3 months' postdischarge, we compared acute healthcare use and parental HRQL, measured by the PedsQL Family Impact Module, among infants who were NG eligible but discharged with all oral feeds, discharged with NG feeds, and discharged with gastrostomy (G) tubes. We calculated NICU days saved by home NG discharges.Results Among 180 infants, 80 were orally fed, 35 used NG, and 65 used G tubes. Compared with infants who had NG-tube feedings, infants who had G-tube feedings had more gastrointestinal or tube-related readmissions and emergency encounters (unadjusted OR 3.97, 95% CI 1.3-12.7, P = .02), and orally-fed infants showed no difference in use (unadjusted OR 0.41, 95% CI 0.1-1.7, P = .225). Multivariable adjustment did not change these comparisons. Parent HRQL at 3 months did not differ between groups. Infants discharged home with NG tubes saved 1574 NICU days.Conclusions NICU discharge with NG feeds is associated with reduced NICU stay without increased postdischarge healthcare use or decreased parent HRQL, whereas G-tube feeding was associated with increased postdischarge healthcare use.

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Parents of infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) are at increased risk of developing perinatal post-traumatic stress disorder (PPTSD), a mental health condition known to interfere with healthy parental and infant attachment. Feelings of uncertainty about illness have been theorized as an antecedent to post-traumatic stress, however the relationship has not been explored in parents of infants requiring care in the NICU. The purpose of this prospective study was to explore parental uncertainty during and after NICU discharge and the relationship between uncertainty and PPTSD. The sample consisted of 319 parents during NICU hospitalization and 245 parents at 3 months postdischarge. Parents who screened positive for PPTSD 3 months after hospital discharge reported more uncertainty both while in the NICU and 3 months after hospital discharge (p < 0.001). In parents with a personal or family history of mental illness, the moderated/mediating structural probit analysis showed no direct or indirect effect of uncertainty during hospitalization or at 3 months after hospital discharge on screening positive for PPTSD. In parents who did not report personal or family history of mental illness, uncertainty at 3 months after hospital discharge had a direct effect (b = 0.678, p < 0.001) and indirect mediating effect (b = 0.276, p < 0.001) on screening positive for PPTSD. The results provide actionable implications for mental health and NICU providers: (1) routine screening for uncertainty and risk factors including previous personal and family history of mental illness, and (2) the development of NICU follow-up support services to mitigate risk for PPTSD.

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Advancements in maternal–fetal interventions have allowed for direct fetal access, shifting the focus of interventions from maternal health for fetal health to a focus on sole fetal/neonatal benefit. Given that access to the fetus can only be obtained through the mother, there are ethical considerations important to consider when counseling the maternal–fetal dyad. The goals of maternal–fetal interventions range from improved fetal/neonatal survival to decreased long-term morbidities and improved quality of life. However, interventions to improve quality of life may not always achieve their desired result. Additionally, maternal–fetal interventions have risks such as premature birth and other complications that should be heavily considered as they may offset the potential benefits of the procedure. While some families elect for a maternal–fetal intervention, doing every potential postnatal intervention may not be in alignment with their goals depending on the outcome of the intervention. Given the complex, value-laden decision-making that is crucial to counseling parents about decisions surrounding maternal–fetal interventions and subsequent neonatal care, palliative care specialists should be utilized in fetal centers. Palliative care specialists are trained to assist with complex, goal concordant decision-making and can guide families and medical teams through the decision points that arise during the treatment journey.