| 1. |
- Bergström, Eva-Britt, et al.
(författare)
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Postpartum depression in mothers of infants cared for in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit : Incidence and associated factors
- 2012
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Ingår i: Journal of Neonatal Nursing. - : Elsevier. - 1355-1841 .- 1878-089X. ; 18:4, s. 143-51
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This longitudinal cohort study investigated the incidence of postpartum depression (PPD) among mothers of infants cared for in two Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) and factors related to PPD onset. 123 mothers were posted the Edinburgh Post-Natal Depression Scale (EPDS) and a questionnaire to record infant and maternal data at 1 month, and a repeat EPDS scale at 4 months post-discharge. PPD incidence was 15% at 1 month, 14% at 4 months, and varied by NICU (23% vs. 8%). Pre-pregnancy and/or antenatal depression was significantly associated with the incidence of PPD. Mothers who experienced PPD at 1 month had an almost eight fold risk of experiencing PPD at 4 months. Women who were not offered counselling during their infant’s stay on the NICU had a 60% increased risk for PPD onset. The findings highlight the need for routine pre-natal screening and targeted support for mothers with infants admitted to NICU.
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| 2. |
- Flacking, Renee, et al.
(författare)
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Closeness and separation in neonatal intensive care
- 2012
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Ingår i: Acta Paediatrica. - : Wiley. - 0803-5253 .- 1651-2227. ; 101:10, s. 1032-1037
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- In this paper, we highlight the need for acknowledging the importance and impact of both physical and emotional closeness between the preterm infant and parent in the neonatal intensive care unit. Physical closeness refers to being spatially close and emotional closeness to parental feelings of being emotionally connected to the infant (experiencing feelings of love, warmth and affection). Through consideration of the literature in this area, we outline some of the reasons why physical closeness and emotional closeness are crucial to the physical, emotional and social well-being of both the infant and the parent. These include positive effects on infant brain development, parent psychological well-being and on the parentinfant relationship. The influence of the neonatal unit environment and culture on physical and emotional closeness is also discussed.Conclusions: Culturally sensitive care practices, procedures and the physical environment need to be considered to facilitate parentinfant closeness, such as through early and prolonged skin-to-skin contact, family-centred care, increased visiting hours, family rooms and optimization of the space on the units. Further research is required to explore factors that facilitate both physical and emotional closeness to ensure that parentinfant closeness is a priority within neonatal care.
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| 3. |
- Flacking, Renée, et al.
(författare)
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Pathways to emotional closeness in neonatal units - a cross-national qualitative study.
- 2016
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Ingår i: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1471-2393 .- 1471-2393. ; 16:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Research shows evidence for the importance of physical and emotional closeness for the infant, the parent and the infant-parent dyad. Less is known about how, when and why parents experience emotional closeness to their infants in a neonatal unit (NU), which was the aim of this study.METHODS: A qualitative study using a salutogenic approach to focus on positive health and wellbeing was undertaken in three NUs: one in Sweden, England and Finland. An 'emotional closeness' form was devised, which asked parents to describe moments/situations when, how and why they had felt emotionally close to their infant. Data for 23 parents of preterm infants were analyzed using thematic networks analysis.RESULTS: A global theme of 'pathways for emotional closeness' emerged from the data set. This concept related to how emotional, physical, cognitive and social influences led to feelings of emotional closeness between parents and their infants. The five underpinning organising themes relate to the: Embodied recognition through the power of physical closeness; Reassurance of, and contributing to, infant wellness; Understanding the present and the past; Feeling engaged in the day to day and Spending time and bonding as a family.CONCLUSION: These findings generate important insights into why, how and when parents feel emotionally close. This knowledge contributes to an increased awareness of how to support parents of premature infants to form positive and loving relationships with their infants. Health care staff should create a climate where parents' emotions and their emotional journey are individually supported.
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| 4. |
- Flacking, Renée, 1964-, et al.
(författare)
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Positive breastfeeding experiences and facilitators in mothers of preterm and low birthweight infants : a meta-ethnographic review
- 2021
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Ingår i: International Breastfeeding Journal. - : BioMed Central (BMC). - 1746-4358. ; 16:1
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- BackgroundMost qualitative research on breastfeeding the preterm or low-birthweight (LBW) infant has focused on negative insights; there are no comprehensive insights into how, when and why mothers experience positive breastfeeding experiences. We aimed to address this knowledge gap by exploring what characterizes and facilitates a positive breastfeeding experience in mothers of preterm and/or LBW infants.MethodsA systematic review using meta-ethnographic methods was conducted. Search strategies involved a comprehensive search strategy on six bibliographic databases, citation tracking and reference checking. The analysis involved a reciprocal level of translation and a line of argument synthesis.ResultsSearches identified 1774 hits and 17 articles from 14 studies were included, representing the views of 697 mothers. A positive breastfeeding experience was identified as being 'attuned'. Three themes and eight sub-themes were developed to describe what characterizes attuned breastfeeding. 'Trusting the body and what it can do', concerned how attuned breastfeeding was facilitated through understanding the bodily responses and capacity and feeling comfortable with holding the infant and to breastfeed. 'Being emotionally present - in the here and now' described the importance of feeling relaxed and reassured. 'Experiencing mutual positive responses', illuminated how attunement was related to feelings of mutuality - when the mother recognises the infant's cues, responds to these signals and receives a positive response from the infant. The key factors to facilitate attuned breastfeeding were opportunities for prolonged close physical contact with the infant, positive relationships with and support from staff and peers, and being facilitated to breastfeed when the infant showed feeding cues.ConclusionsThis study provides new insights into what characterizes a positive breastfeeding experience and how staff can facilitate and enable mothers to achieve attuned breastfeeding. Improvements in units' design, such as for rooming-in and having prolonged skin-to-skin contact, and care provided by knowledgeable, supportive and encouraging staff and peers, are crucial. The mother's physical and emotional states and the infant's behavioural responses and physiological signals should guide the process towards positive breastfeeding practices.
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| 5. |
- Thomson, Gill, et al.
(författare)
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Integrating a sense of coherence into the neonatal environment
- 2013
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Ingår i: BMC Pediatrics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1471-2431. ; 13
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Family centred care (FCC) is currently a valued philosophy within neonatal care; an approach that places the parents at the heart of all decision-making and engagement in the care of their infant. However, to date, there is a lack of clarity regarding the definition of FCC and limited evidence of FCCs effectiveness in relation to parental, infant or staff outcomes.Discussion: In this paper we present a new perspective to neonatal care based on Aaron Antonovksy's Sense of Coherence (SOC) theory of well-being and positive health. Whilst the SOC was originally conceptualised as a psychological-based construct, the SOCs three underpinning concepts of comprehensibility, manageability and meaningfulness provide a theoretical lens through which to consider and reflect upon meaningful care provision in this particular care environment. By drawing on available FCC research, we consider how the SOC concepts considered from both a parental and professional perspective need to be addressed. The debate offered in this paper is not presented to reduce the importance or significance of FCC within neonatal care, but, rather, how consideration of the SOC offers the basis through which meaningful and effective FCC may be delivered. Practice based implications contextualised within the SOC constructs are also detailed.Summary: Consideration of the SOC constructs from both a parental and professional perspective need to be addressed in FCC provision. Service delivery and care practices need to be comprehensible, meaningful and manageable in order to achieve and promote positive well-being and health for all concerned.
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| 6. |
- Thomson, Gill, et al.
(författare)
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Shame if you do – shame if you don’t : women’s experiences of infant feeding
- 2015
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Ingår i: Maternal and Child Nutrition. - : Wiley. - 1740-8695 .- 1740-8709. ; 11:1, s. 33-46
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Emotions such as guilt and blame are frequently reported by non-breastfeeding mothers, and fear and humiliation are experienced by breastfeeding mothers when feeding in a public context. In this paper, we present new insights into how shame-related affects, cognitions and actions are evident within breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding women's narratives of their experiences. As part of an evaluation study of the implementation of the UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative Community Award within two primary (community based) care trusts in North West England, 63 women with varied infant feeding experiences took part in either a focus group or an individual semi-structured interview to explore their experiences, opinions and perceptions of infant feeding. Using a framework analysis approach and drawing on Lazare's categories of shame, we consider how the nature of the event (infant feeding) and the vulnerability of the individual (mother) interact in the social context to create shame responses in some breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding mothers. Three key themes illustrate how shame is experienced and internalised through 'exposure of women's bodies and infant feeding methods', 'undermining and insufficient support' and 'perceptions of inadequate mothering'. The findings of this paper highlight how breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding women may experience judgement and condemnation in interactions with health professionals as well as within community contexts, leading to feelings of failure, inadequacy and isolation. There is a need for strategies and support that address personal, cultural, ideological and structural constraints of infant feeding.
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