1. Investing in Todays Parents and Tomorrows Children

2.  3,801 premature infants were admitted to California NICU’s in
2006
 While these infants fight for their lives physically, their parents
are often emotionally overwhelmed and unprepared.
 Many parents report feelings of helplessness, disappointment,
anger, sadness, grief, and regret.
 If such emotions are not addressed or dealt with, parents are at
an increased risk of developing Postpartum Depression or PTSD,
which occurred at a rate of 15% of mothers and 8% of NICU
fathers in recent study.
Crisis in the NICU

3.  The problem: A mother with PPD or PTSD is unable to
meet the emotional and physical needs of her infant,
putting she and her infant at risk for a number of of
factors
 Long term Attachment difficulties and a failure to bond
with Mom.
 Long term Cognitive deficits
 Longer hospitalization is likely
 Increased stress experienced by the parent(s).
Effects of PPD and PTSD

4.  Infant care education
 Diapering
 Sponge baths
 Proper holding techniques
 Instruct parents on how to feed a baby through their G-tube
 Colostomy bag
 Kangaroo Care
 Parental Support and Care
 Parent buddy program
 Parent psychosocial education
Parent Education

5.  A study conducted by Preyde (2003) showed that NICU mother’s
who receive some form of intervention report lower stress
 C.O.P.E. (Creating Opportunities for Parent
Empowerment)
 Mothers who participated in C.O.P.E. reported the
following:
 Less stress while in the NICU
 Increased parental beliefs and confidence regarding their
role as parents
 Less anxiety and fewer signs of depression 2 months after
their child’s birth as compared with the control group
 4 fewer days spent in the NICU for babies preterm at 26-
34 weeks
Benefits of Parent Education
Programs

6. Program Budget
Cost of employing a NICU Child Life Specialist
Dolls $52.00/per doll
Infant care brochure(s) 15.00/ per patient
Surveys and psychosocial
materials
$15.00/ per patient
Cost of Program Supplies

7. Cost-Effectiveness of a Parent Education Program
Investment Yearly Cost Short Term
Effects
Long Term
Effects
Overall cost
Parent Education
Program
$61,642 • Less parental
stress
• Increased parent
confidence
• Parent child
bonding
• Avg of 4 days
Shorter
hospitalization
• Healthy
mother/child
attachment
• Infant is more
likely to be
cognitively on par
and emotionally
stable
• a savings of
$5,000/per child
due to 4 less days
in the hospital.
• $5,000 x 3,801
premature babies
results in a
savings of
$19,005,000
annually.
No Program $0 • Anxiety remains
• Parents fail to
reach their full
potential
• Longer infant
hospitalization
• Cognitive deficits
• Attachment/relati
onal difficulties
• $5,000/per child
for 4+ days of
hospitalization
• $5,000 x 3,801 =
$19,005,000 more
dollars spent on
unnecessary
hospitalization