Parental perspectives after very preterm birth: Seeing the good, not just the bad
The study aimed to understand how parents see the health and development of their extremely preterm baby (born at less then 29 weeks gestation): their concerns and what they considered positive. We compared this with their babies level of neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI). Parents of children aged 15-36 months, born before 29 weeks’ gestation, were surveyed about their concerns and positive thoughts. The results, gathered from 199 parental responses for 163 children, showed that most parents felt their children were growing well and had a good health, regardless of NDI. Parents, regardless of NDI, said their children were happy and had positive personalities. Parents of children without NDI appreciated social interactions more than those with NDI. Parents of children with NDI were more likely to have worries, especially about development, their child’s future, and physical health. This study emphasizes the importance of understanding parental perspectives to better support preterm infants and their families, both during pregnancy and in neonatal care.