Supporting parents in the neonatal unit

Abstract

Parents find it very stressful when their baby is admitted to the neonatal unit for any reason. Different sources of stress have been identified, and certain occasions (such as discharge from hospital or bereavement) are particularly difficult. These experiences impact on families in positive and negative ways, and people adopt a range of coping mechanisms. Staff should adopt a holistic approach to care that acknowledges the uniqueness of each family and supports them appropriatly