What about fathers? A review of a fathers’ peer support group on a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Parental and staff experiences of restricted parental presence on a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit during COVID‐19

“…The findings of this study are consistent with the literature on parental wellbeing for NICU parents and infant wellbeing. [3][4][5][6][7][8][11][12][13][14] N otwithstanding this, the findings are helpful in the sense that they add to the evidence base in terms of understanding the emotional impact for NICU parents going through a global pandemic, as this is currently in its infancy. 1 The current study also compliments the findings of Bainter et al (2020), in that staff also experienced difficulties feeling able to fully communicate with parents during the first wave because of the visiting restrictions.…”

“…Further research on the impact on NICU fathers of the global pandemic and restricted parental presence would also be of use, given that NICU fathers are often under‐researched. 11 , 14 The staff data were limited by sample size, with a small response rate from the overall NICU team. The majority of responses were from nursing colleagues, with few from doctors and other NICU members of staff.…”

“…The deleterious impact on parents of having a baby in NICU is well documented. 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 Taking into account the psychological distress when their baby/ies are in the NICU, together with the NICU visiting restrictions, it was anticipated that these factors together would increase the psychological vulnerability of parents in the NICU. However, there is a dearth of research on this, given the novelty of the COVID‐19 pandemic.…”

Australian fathers’ experiences of support following neonatal death: a need for better access to diverse support options

“…There are often limited formal support options for parents after neonatal death and pregnancy loss, with primary supports including support groups and individual counselling [13][14][15]. Mothers have highlighted the importance of connecting with other parents who have experienced neonatal death to form an emotional connection and feel understood [16].…”

“…Mothers have highlighted the importance of connecting with other parents who have experienced neonatal death to form an emotional connection and feel understood [16]. Peer support, particularly for parents in the NICU, can offer a shared experience in which parents can relate to each other and provide each other with comfort [13]. A qualitative study into a fathers' support group within the NICU found that fathers may also benefit from peer support, as observing men in a similar situation and talking about coping strategies helps to give fathers a comparative norm [17].…”