An investigation into the experiences of parents of preterm infants in Ireland

The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines a preterm infant as a baby born alive before 37 weeks gestation (1) . In comparison with term infants, they can require substantially longer hospital stays and face an increased risk of complications (1,2) . The experience of preterm birth places considerable emotional and psychological strain on parents (3) . Parents of preterm infants can experience higher rates of anxiety and depression due to concerns around their infant’s health and the unexpected, traumatic nature of preterm birth (4) . The aim of this study was to investigate the challenges parents of preterm infants, face throughout the preterm journey. A sample of 154 parents who had a preterm infant within the past three years were recruited via an online parenting platform, Everymum.ie, and completed a 39-item questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were carried out using IMB SPSS Version 29. The majority of participants were female (90%) and 54% were aged between 35-44 years. Preterm infants were categorised by birth weight, and 82% of the sample were classified as Low Birth Weight (LBW). Regarding delivery experience, 68% of parents reported an unexpected delivery (less than one week’s notice), with 51% (n=78) of the sample receiving less than 24 hours of notice. In contrast, 32% (n=50) had at least one week’s notice (expected delivery). Among those with expected deliveries, 34% (n=17) felt they did not receive adequate information before birth. The topics of interest to these parents included Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) information, education on preterm infants, and emotional support. The most reported health challenges infants experienced were respiratory issues, jaundice, feeding issues, growth and cardiac issues. Parents identified their main challenges as emotional distress, separation from their infant, disruption to the family unit, difficulties with healthcare professionals (HCPs) and feeling generally unsupported. This study not only highlights the potential challenges that both preterm infants and their parents can face, but also areas of support and education that could be addressed to ensure parents of preterm infants feel supported throughout their journey.