Recommendations for involving the family in developmental care of the NICU baby

Abstract

Family involvement is a key to realize the potential for long-lasting positive effects on physical, cognitive and psychosocial development of all babies, including those in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Family-centered developmental care (FCDC) recognizes the family as vital members of the NICU health-care team. As such, families are integrated into decision-making processes and are collaborators in their baby's care. Through standardized use of FCDC principles in the NICU, a foundation is constructed to enhance the family's lifelong relationship with their child and optimize development of the baby. Recommendations are made for supporting parental roles as caregivers of their babies in the NICU, supporting NICU staff participation in FCDC and creating NICU policies that support this type of care. These recommendations are designed to meet the basic human needs of all babies, the special needs of hospitalized babies and the needs of families who are coping with the crisis of having a baby in the NICU.

Estrés en padres de recién nacidos hospitalizados en una unidad de paciente crítico neonatal

“…The authors of the scale, in a review in year 1993 4 , eliminated the subscale "Staff behaviours and communications" since few parents registered answers in this subscale. However, in this study, it was decided to use it because of the relevance of the role of health staff in helping parents adjust to the stress of hospitalization of a child in a NICU 5 and in helping them to recognize the signs of the newborn, to trust themselves as caregivers and to favor the bonding with the NB 37 . In other words, the alteration in the parental role can be attenuated as the staff helps them feel more competent and secure as parents.…”

Contribution of the Newborn Behavioral Observations (NBO) for the maternal care of preterm neonates

“…Interventions had mixed results in improving the relationship between mother and child; however, a common aspect was the promotion of maternal care guided by newborn signals 20 , as emphasized in the NBO. Favoring the parents' learning about the newborn during the hospitalization period is supported by recommendations elaborated for the clinical practice of the health professional assisting this group 21 . These recommendations are based on the understanding that preterm newborns and their families have specific care needs during their hospitalization, so actions are necessary to promote learning about newborn behavior, parental empowerment, and meeting the needs of the newborn.…”

“…These recommendations are based on the understanding that preterm newborns and their families have specific care needs during their hospitalization, so actions are necessary to promote learning about newborn behavior, parental empowerment, and meeting the needs of the newborn. As a result of these actions, there is the reduction of stress and promotion of the mental health of parents as well as the strengthening of the relationship between parents and preterm infants 21 .…”

Non-pharmacological management of neonatal pain: Research and clinical practice in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

“…In addition, the breastfeeding and the skinto-skin contact comprise part of a whole process of parenting, taking care of infants, acting for pain relief, and, naturally, promoting the mother-child interactions, which are protective for the emotional development of infants (Craig et al, 2015;Phillips, 2015).…”

“…When the infants have more biobehavioral stability and regulation it becomes easier for the mothers to be close to the infants during their waking states, representing a special moment for stimulating the attachment. Finally, the main component of mother-infant interactions could be stimulated by the health professionals supporting mothers to establish good strategies for touching, talking and gazing at the infants under the special and restricted conditions of the NICU environment (Craig et al, 2015;Phillips, 2015).…”