Beyond the First Wave: Consequences of COVID-19 on High-Risk Infants and Families

Abstract

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is affecting care for high-risk newborns in ways that will likely be sustained beyond the initial pandemic response. These novel challenges present an urgent imperative to understand how COVID-19 impacts parent, family, and infant outcomes. We highlight three areas that warrant targeted attention: (1) inpatient care: visitation policies, developmental care, and communication practices; (2) outpatient care: high-risk infant follow-up and early intervention programs; and (3) parent psychosocial distress: mental health, social support, and financial toxicity. Changes to care delivery in these areas provide an opportunity to identify and implement novel strategies to provide family-centered care during COVID-19 and beyond. Key Points The COVID-19 pandemic is influencing care delivery for high-risk newborns and their families. Rapid changes to care delivery are likely to be sustained beyond the initial pandemic response. We have an urgent imperative to understand how COVID-19 impacts infant, parent, and family outcomes.