Difficulties of parents with infants admitted in Unit Neonatology

Abstract

Theoretical framework: Parents with babies admitted to the Neonatology Unit (NU) experience difficulties and health professionals have knowledge of them, as observed by them and shared by parents. Objectives: To understand the experiences of parents with babies admitted to the NU. Methodology: An exploratory study, based on semi-structured interviews, during which we tried to identify their difficulties (n = 20). Results: Difficulties in separating of the baby, high physical and psychological stress, generated by the emotions associated with the severity of the condition and management of numerous requests that parents are subjected throughout the hospital. Financial difficulties in dealing with the environment and procedures of the NU (vulnerability of the baby, technological apparatus, constant monitoring) and take care of the baby without help from professionals when they go home. Conclusion: The identification of difficulties not only serves the purpose to intervene directly with the parents, seeking their resilience, but also extend the strategies to cope with the clinical condition of the baby, its treatment and hospitalization and/or present suffering.