Starting parenting in isolation a qualitative user-initiated study of parents’ experiences with hospitalization in Neonatal Intensive Care units during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Background Worldwide, strict infection control measures including visitation regulations were implemented due to the COVID-19 pandemic at Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs). These regulations gave restricted access for parents to their hospitalized infants. The consequence was limited ability to involve in the care of their infants. At Oslo University Hospital entry to NICU was denied to all except healthy mothers in March 2020. The absolute access ban for fathers lasted for 10 weeks. The aim of this study was to explore parental experiences with an infant hospitalized in the NICU during this absolute visitation ban period. Methods We invited post discharge all parents of surviving infants that had been hospitalized for at least 14 days to participate. They were interviewed during autumn 2020 using an explorative semi-structured interview approach. Data were analyzed via inductive thematic analysis. Results Nine mothers and four fathers participated. The COVID-19 regulations strongly impacted the parent’s experiences of their stay. The fathers’ limited access felt life-impacting. Parents struggled to become a family and raised their voices to be heard. Not being able to experience parenthood together led to emotional loneliness. The fathers struggled to learn how to care for their infant. The regulations might lead to a postponed attachment. On the other hand, of positive aspect the parents got some quietness. Being hospitalized during this first wave was experienced as exceptional and made parents seeking alliances by other parents. Social media was used to keep in contact with the outside world. Conclusions The regulations had strong negative impact on parental experiences during the NICU hospitalization. The restriction to fathers’ access to the NICU acted as a significant obstacle to early infant-father bonding and led to loneliness and isolation by the mothers. Thus, these COVID-19 measures might have had adverse consequences for families.

‘They could not see our eyes, they cannot see our faces, they do not know who we are and that is hard’: a qualitative interview study with staff caring for children and families in a UK specialist children’s hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…In our study, participants highlighted greater impact on three patient groups: older children in ICU who were awake and unaccompanied, children receiving palliative care and neonates. There is now a body of published evidence to support these findings related to children’s intensive care24 and neonatal intensive care,25–28 where parents echoed the views of our participants citing the isolation of being the parent in the hospital or at home during an admission. The rapid introduction of restrictions and the slow and uneven return to parental and family-centred care have implications for longer term impact on families as well as staff who provided care during these restrictions.…”

The Impact of Parental Presence Restrictions on Canadian Parents in the NICU During COVID-19: A National Survey

“…Parents in our survey reported higher feelings of trauma from being alone without a support person across situations encountered in the NICU. A recent qualitative study found that the restriction of fathers’ access to the NICU significantly impacted early infant–father bonding and led to feelings of isolation and loneliness by the mothers ( Kynø et al, 2021 ). These findings are consistent with a review of the literature examining the safety of maintaining family-integrated care in NICUs during the COVID-19 pandemic and recommendations for care ( van Veenendaal et al, 2021 ).…”

Psychosocial Difficulties Experienced By Parents Of Babies Treated In A Neonatal Intensive Care Unit During The Coronavirus Pandemic

“…Parents of NICU babies have high expectations of healthcare professionals ( Duran et al, 2020 ; Kynø et al, 2021 ; Musabirema et al, 2015 ). Our participants wanted to FaceTime with their babies more often.…”