Small Wins for Small Babies: Celebrating Weekly Successes Helps Parents Cope With the NICU Hospitalisation.

AIM: To describe the implementation and evaluation of an intervention to celebrate babies' weekly achievements in the neonatal unit (prolonged hospitalisations) and examine parental perspectives.

METHODS

In a feasibility study, 92 parents reported the lack of optimism in the NICU, that clinicians often focused on what was going wrong; they recommended weekly celebration of accomplishments. The formats recommended were both physical (certificate given to parents) and virtual (text message). Inclusion criteria were baby > 1 week of life, likely survival, predicted hospitalisation > 1 month and parental consent. Parental perspectives were investigated using mixed methods with a questionnaire after discharge.

RESULTS

The parents of 93 babies received weekly certificates (100% participation). The length of stay was on average 104 days, for a total of 1182 certificates/text messages received. 45% answered the questionnaire. The overall evaluation of parents was 9.1 of10; 88% reported it helped them cope with hospitalisation. Parental answers to open-ended questions were all positive and invoked gratitude, empowerment, patience and hope.

CONCLUSION

Weekly text messages and certificates celebrating babies' accomplishments were appreciated and helped parents cope. It is possible to instil healthy optimism in the NICU.