Providing Continuity in Infant Mental Health Services for Medically Fragile Infants and Their Families

Abstract

Having a baby who is prenatally or postnatally diagnosed with a medical condition places considerable stress on the parents, infants, and their developing relationship. Infant mental health (IMH) services offer an opportunity to address the challenges and support the parent-infant relationship. The present study outlined a continuum of care IMH program embedded within various medical settings of a large metropolitan children’s hospital. Applications of IMH principles within the fetal care center, neonatal intensive care unit, high risk infant follow-up clinic, and the patient’s home are described. Descriptive data about families served across settings and a case study are provided in order to illustrate the implementation of this unique IMH intervention model.

Parental stress and depression in the NICU: an analysis of psychosocial evaluations, infant factors, and stress-related salivary biomarkers

“…We note that the frequent occurrence of paternal signs of depression and stress warrant inclusion of both parents in screening procedures. The frequency of PPD and stress/anxiety in NICU parents also highlights the importance of providing a continuum of parent and infant mental health services during and after a NICU hospitalization 52 .…”