Closeness and separation in neonatal intensive care

Abstract

In this paper, we highlight the need for acknowledging the importance and impact of both physical and emotional closeness between the preterm infant and parent in the neonatal intensive care unit. Physical closeness refers to being spatially close and emotional closeness to parental feelings of being emotionally connected to the infant (experiencing feelings of love, warmth and affection). Through consideration of the literature in this area, we outline some of the reasons why physical closeness and emotional closeness are crucial to the physical, emotional and social well-being of both the infant and the parent. These include positive effects on infant brain development, parent psychological well-being and on the parent–infant relationship. The influence of the neonatal unit environment and culture on physical and emotional closeness is also discussed.ConclusionsCulturally sensitive care practices, procedures and the physical environment need to be considered to facilitate parent–infant closeness, such as through early and prolonged skin-to-skin contact, family-centred care, increased visiting hours, family rooms and optimization of the space on the units. Further research is required to explore factors that facilitate both physical and emotional closeness to ensure that parent–infant closeness is a priority within neonatal care.

Critical analyses of the implications of Kangaroo Mother Care on a preterm infant

“…Moreover, sustained periods of mother-infant SSC is considered an effective way to empower mothers to become familiar with their infants and reinforce their mothering at their own pace and is an easy way of enhancing maternal breastfeeding self-efficacy (Flacking et al 2012).…”

“…Currently in most hospital settings, maternal separation has become fairly routine practice after birth (Flacking 2012). However, the physiological impact of this is unknown.…”

Estrés en padres de recién nacidos prematuros de muy bajo peso hospitalizados en unidades de cuidados intensivos neonatales. Estudio multicéntrico

“…27,28 Esto es también consistente con estudios que sugieren que el contacto físico y la cercanía emocional entre la madre y su hijo son cruciales para el bienestar físico y emocional de ambos. 29 Adicionalmente, nuestros resultados muestran que el factor que genera mayor estrés en los padres en relación con la condición de su hijo es el requerimiento de apoyo ventilatorio. Otros estudios han identificado, además del apoyo ventilatorio, el menor peso de nacimiento y la edad gestacional como factores estresantes para los padres, 30 así como la percepción de qué tan enfermo se encuentra su hijo.…”

Meanings, beliefs and attitudes of the neonatal unit staff in México about the parents' participation in a neonatal unit: A qualitative approach

“…In this case, unrestricted parental inclusion in the NU should be implicated, for example, when the mother participates in maternal activities such as feeding and skin-to-skin contact result in an empowered mother and a close relationship within the mother-child dyad. Therefore, the hospitalized children and their parents will benefit from these changes because they may result in biological and psycho-social advantages due to the closeness and bonding between parents and children [5,11] .…”

“…Training nurses and physicians provide care to recovery the preterm neonates, therefore, their activities are focused in procedures in this care environment. In NUs still a medical and technical focus is predominating [5,6] . In accordance with Wigert the staff of NU have a challenge in provide support to parents´ participation in the care of their child [7] .…”