OBJECTIVES To assess parents' first experiences of their very preterm babies and the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). DESIGN Qualitative study using semistructured interviews. PARTICIPANTS 32 mothers and 7 fathers of very preterm babies (<32 weeks gestation). SETTING Three neonatal units in tertiary care hospitals in South East England. RESULTS Five themes were identified. The first...

When parents voice their dissatisfaction with the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), it is often not because they think their baby has not received good medical care. Instead, it is often because their needs have not been addressed. Policy statements and pedagogy alike urge professionals to be empathetic, compassionate, honest, and caring. However, these theoretical concepts are generally end...

OBJECTIVE To examine the outcomes of neonates born by elective repeat cesarean delivery compared with vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) in women with one prior cesarean delivery and to evaluate the cost differences between elective repeat cesarean and VBAC. METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 672 women with one prior cesarean delivery and a singleton pregnancy at or after 3...

BACKGROUND Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among parents of neonates hospitalized in the Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) stays an underestimated problem. We determined the incidence of PTSD in parents and pointed out medical and demographic risk factors for PTSD in neonates hospitalized in the NICU. SUBJECT AND METHODS The study involved 39 mothers and 27 fathers of 42 infants aged...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate antimicrobial utilization and prescription practices in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) after implementation of an antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP). DESIGN Quasi-experimental, interrupted time-series study. SETTING A 54-bed, level IV NICU in a regional academic and tertiary referral center. PATIENTS AND PARTICIPANTS All neonates prescribed antimicrobials from ...