Background: Late pre-term infants (LPIs) are babies born between 34–36+6 weeks gestational age. Despite advancements in neonatal care, LPIs are at a greater risk of morbidity and mortality than full-term infants. LPIs require a longer stay in hospital than full-term infants due to an increased risk of feeding difficulties, excessive weight loss, low blood sugar, excess bilirubin in the blood (jaundice), low body temperature, temperature dysregulation, new-born respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS), sepsis and neurodevelopmental impairment. Due to these complications, LPIs require specialist care including careful monitoring and treatment in neonatal units before they can be discharged home with their parents. This early separation from parents can lead to difficulties with attachment and breastfeeding, which also requires specialist support and can lead to high levels of stress for parents. Evidence has shown that educational, behavioural, and psychological transfer to home interventions for parents of late preterm infants admitted to neonatal intensive care unit, may reduce stress levels, and promote healthier parent-baby relationships.
Findings from our systematic review indicate that early supported discharge/transfer to home interventions may reduce hospital stay without compromising safety or growth of pre-term infants. However, further research is needed to assess the effectiveness of early supported discharge interventions on key clinical outcomes.
Aim: This project will explore the experiences of parents of LPIs, and neonatal staff involved NEST@Home service during COVID-19. It will also explore how parents and staff may be supported better and whether this service should continue.
Methods: An online questionnaire has been sent to parents with the option to provide their details for a follow up interview. Neonatal Staff have been invited to take part in focus groups to discuss their experiences. Recruitment is currently ongoing
If you would like to find out more about the project, please contact our researcher: Natalie Morgan nmorgaa5@uclan.ac.uk