The Parenting Premmies Support Program: Designing and developing a mobile health intervention for mothers of preterm infants.

Not being able to hug our baby before the cables: Early experiences of parents with premature babies

“…Parents felt inadequate in caring for the baby and experienced care‐related anxiety. Studies have reported that the birth of a premature baby causes the baby and parents to stay in the hospital for a long time, separation from the baby and fear of losing the baby, stress, anxiety, loss of control and inadequacies 22‐27 . It is also emphasized that parents perceive preterm birth as traumatic, experience emotional shock and depression related to the appearance of the baby and hospitalization in the NICU 22‐28 .…”

“…Postdischarge difficulties for parents include a lack of confidence in their ability to care for their babies independently as well as an increasing concern about their babies' weight, nutrition, sleep, and placement 24 . In one study, parents reported that after discharge, they were concerned about the health and well‐being of their babies 45 .…”

“…Studies have reported that the birth of a premature baby causes the baby and parents to stay in the hospital for a long time, separation from the baby and fear of losing the baby, stress, anxiety, loss of control and inadequacies. [22][23][24][25][26][27] It is also emphasized that parents perceive preterm birth as traumatic, experience emotional shock and depression related to the appearance of the baby and hospitalization in the NICU. [22][23][24][25][26][27][28] Similar to the prior literature, in this study, a parent with a premature baby stated that they felt guilty because they thought that some events caused by them caused premature birth.…”

“…[22][23][24][25][26][27] It is also emphasized that parents perceive preterm birth as traumatic, experience emotional shock and depression related to the appearance of the baby and hospitalization in the NICU. [22][23][24][25][26][27][28] Similar to the prior literature, in this study, a parent with a premature baby stated that they felt guilty because they thought that some events caused by them caused premature birth. These findings draw attention to the importance of expressing parents' feelings about preterm birth.…”

“…27,[41][42][43][44] Postdischarge difficulties for parents include a lack of confidence in their ability to care for their babies independently as well as an increasing concern about their babies' weight, nutrition, sleep, and placement. 24 In one study, parents reported that after discharge, they were concerned about the health and well-being of their babies. 45 In the investigations of Boykova 46 and Granero-Molina et al 47 it has been emphasized that parents needed social, emotional, and professional support after discharge.…”