Stress in parents of low birth weight preterm babies and outcome of family integrated care

To compare the stress level in mothers of NICU preterm low birth weight babies using a parental stressor scale at the time of admission and during discharge of the baby and to know the result of FAMILY INTEGRATED CARE on the duration of hospital stay and growth(weight gain) in the new born.

Preterm birth is a stressful event for parents and affects the parent-child relationship. As a result the infant’s development is affected physically, psychologically, and emotionally. Studies have shown that 13% of the mothers remain depressed till 27 months after birth and worry about child health among Neonatal intensive care unit(NICU) parents. Parent stress, anxiety, depression, and fatigue alter parenting behaviour and perception of parental competence, parent-infant interaction, and ultimately infant outcomes such as cognitive development, emotional regulation, and health. Many programs, such as kangaroo mother care, skin-to-skin care, and family-centred care have been developed to encourage greater parent involvement. However, most programs still adhere to the common premise that only NICU professionals with special skills can provide care for the infant, and parents are generally relegated to a supportive role. Studies have shown that Family Integrated Care(FIC) is feasible so this study will help to determine the outcome of FAMILY INTEGRATED CARE in terms of stress in mothers and the duration of stay of preterm babies.