Abstract
The hospitalization of a newborn is often associated with significant parental emotional distress. A myriad of situational stresses further add to parental burden, including caring for siblings, difficulties with transportation to often distant medical centers, as well as work related and financial concerns. This chapter examines parental emotional experiences in response to newborn hospitalization. “Prevalence and Meaning of Emotional Distress in NICU Parents” summarizes epidemiologic findings on the prevalence of emotional distress, compares these rates to those reported in parents of non-hospitalized, and explores the significance of elevated symptoms for NICU parents. “Support for Emotionally Distressed Parents” has a practical focus. First general support programs for NICU parents are described, including an overview of the newly issued guidelines for the psychosocial care of NICU parents, a description of procedures that can be incorporated into the infant’s care in the NICU, and a description of a hospital-based general support program. A second focus of “Support for Emotionally Distressed Parents” is to summarize the status of research on interventions focused on emotional distress in NICU mothers, and to review issues surrounding post discharge support.
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