Abstract
To better understand the experiences of mothers with an infant admitted to a neonatal unit and ascertain their perspectives on an available information support app, Babble, eight mothers with an infant admitted to a Level II+ neonatal unit were interviewed. Thematic analysis was utilized and responses indicated that mothers of neonates experienced challenges around adapting to the maternal role and managing their expectations of motherhood. Relationships with staff were seen as pivotal in the development of maternal confidence and essential to the overall experience. Mothers prioritized informational support, but how mothers sought out this information depended on their individual needs. Mothers who reported using the Babble app found it to be a helpful supplementary resource, tailorable to their situation. Results suggest that greater staff awareness of parental perspectives and the development of adaptable and diverse resources, ensuring parents are provided with individualized and appropriate care, is needed.
Highlights
For infants born with health difficulties or born prematurely, admission to a neonatal unit/neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) often occurs to ensure the infant is provided with the needed medical support and intervention that enables them to develop and thrive
Three key themes were identified pertaining to maternal experiences of the neonatal unit and their perspectives on their use of the Babble app
Our findings suggest that introducing the app as early as possible is helpful to parents, allowing them time to prepare and explore information related to the possible admission at their own pace, with several mothers reporting using prior to the birth was helpful
Summary
For infants born with health difficulties or born prematurely, admission to a neonatal unit/neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) often occurs to ensure the infant is provided with the needed medical support and intervention that enables them to develop and thrive. Such hospitalization has, been associated with various adverse outcomes for the parents and the family as a whole (Carter et al, 2005; Davis et al, 2003). Reviews of qualitative studies exploring the topic have determined that almost all parents surveyed found the experience of neonatal admission stressful (Al Maghaireh et al, 2016; Obeidat et al, 2009)
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