Parents’ expectations of staff in the early bonding process with their premature babies in the intensive care setting: a qualitative multicenter study with 60 parents

Table 2 Caregivers’ actions reported by parents as useful for early bonding with their preterm newborn

Before birth	Prenatal visit by neonatologist
	Explanations: baby’s weight and capacities, breastfeeding, child's course
	Introduction of staff and department operation
	Consistency of descriptions of management
At birth	Briefly reassure parents about baby's condition (alive)
At birth	Reassure father about the mother's condition
Between delivery and first visit	Visit mother in her room
	Provide photograph of the baby
	Interact directly with both parents, especially if clinical status of the baby is worsening
In the NICU	Accompany each parent on first visit
	Gentle and attentive attitude toward the baby
	Explanations: machines, alarms, child's capacities and ways of helping him
	Help parents become more autonomous progressively, gently and kindly, avoid judgments
	Suggest closeness: carrying the baby, skin-to-skin (anticipate and support these moments)

ISSN: 1471-2431