Assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on parental satisfaction in two European neonatal intensive care units

No change in mother's own milk provision and breastfeeding rates in preterm infants during the COVID-19 pandemic

AIM

The aim of the study was to evaluate the duration of mother's own milk (MOM) provision to preterm very low-birth weight (VLBW, <1500 g) infants during the COVID-19 pandemic. We hypothesised that COVID-19 restrictions would reduce the duration of MOM provision.

METHODS

This retrospective study compared VLBW infants born at the Berlin university hospital during the pandemic (15 March 2020 to 14 March 2021, n = 108) with infants born in the pre-pandemic year (01 January 2019 to 31 January 2019, n = 121). We calculated the duration of MOM provision and analysed factors associated with its early cessation.

RESULTS

During the pandemic, the rate of primiparous mothers increased from 29% to 44% while the distribution of all other parental and infants' characteristics remained similar. There were no differences in the median duration of MOM provision (47 vs. 51 days), feeding type (MOM 67% vs. 65%) and breastfeeding rates at discharge (exclusive, 8% vs. 13%; partial 69% vs. 60%). Cox proportional hazard analysis revealed smoking during pregnancy and parental school education consistently as independent risk factors for early cessation of MOM provision.

CONCLUSION

Supply of MOM for VLBW infants can be upheld also during pandemic restrictions.

Neonatal Pictures in a NICU as a Mode of Nursing Intervention to Enhance Parent-Infant Bonding: Parents' Experience during the COVID Pandemic

INTRODUCTION

Neonatal departments around the world have changed their policies to prevent the spread of infection during the COVID-19 pandemic. The birth of an extremely premature baby can disrupt physical contact between the mother/parent and the baby. This situation affects the bonding process between mother and child. The aim of the study was to investigate the opinions of parents who receive photographs or videos of their children electronically on the usefulness of this intervention, as well as the emotional reaction of parents to the photos or videos received, and potential ways to improve the intervention.

METHODS

The study used a qualitative approach and relied on phenomenology, which is a research method used to study experience as experienced from the subjective point of view. Pilot interviews were conducted in January and February 2021, and the final study ran from March to June 2021.

RESULTS

The uploaded photographs and videos provided a useful communication tool. The parents' emotions at the proposal to send photographs of the child and while viewing the first photographs were strong and marked by considerable ambivalence.

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed how important it is to ensure communication between the parent and the medical staff. Despite the positive reception, in the future obtaining consent from the legal guardian for taking pictures should be considered, whether this form will be accepted, and to ensure the presence of medical staff while the parent is watching the photographs/videos, as this method of communication will not fully ensure direct skin-to-skin contact to build bonds between the parent and the infant. Neonatal intensive care units need to find strategies to mitigate the impact of separation on parental experiences and bonds should a similar situation arise in the future.