Parenting the High-Risk Infant
Parenting the High-Risk Infant
Parenting the high-risk infant presents additional challenges and stressors to families struggling to cope with raising children. Parents of high-risk infants have higher anxiety levels and depression is more common. Because a positive home environment is crucial to maximize the high-risk infant's potential, medical professionals must support these parents. Nursing interventions to maximize parenting skills and improve outcomes are discussed.
Parenting is a challenging process under ideal circumstances. The quality of parenting and the home environment are crucial factors in any child's outcome, and even more important in the outcome of the high-risk infant. Increased stressors and challenges are faced by parents of an infant in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and after discharge. The uncertainty of their child's future, strains every aspect of their life. This article reviews parental reactions to having a baby in the NICU, parental reactions following discharge, and nursing interventions that promote positive parenting. Research has mainly focused on maternal reactions; less is known about paternal reactions and stressors.
Parenting the high-risk infant presents additional challenges and stressors to families struggling to cope with raising children. Parents of high-risk infants have higher anxiety levels and depression is more common. Because a positive home environment is crucial to maximize the high-risk infant's potential, medical professionals must support these parents. Nursing interventions to maximize parenting skills and improve outcomes are discussed.
Parenting is a challenging process under ideal circumstances. The quality of parenting and the home environment are crucial factors in any child's outcome, and even more important in the outcome of the high-risk infant. Increased stressors and challenges are faced by parents of an infant in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and after discharge. The uncertainty of their child's future, strains every aspect of their life. This article reviews parental reactions to having a baby in the NICU, parental reactions following discharge, and nursing interventions that promote positive parenting. Research has mainly focused on maternal reactions; less is known about paternal reactions and stressors.
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