The Challenges to Promoting Attachment for Hospitalised Infants with NAS
Open Access
- 22 February 2021
- Vol. 8 (2), 167
- https://doi.org/10.3390/children8020167
Abstract
The postnatal period is crucial for infants in establishing a connection with and security in primary caregivers and can have enduring effects on attachment patterns. However, due to the need for symptom management, many infants diagnosed with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) may be separated from primary caregivers and cared for in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) or special care nursery (SCN) soon after birth. Research has shown that substance-exposed infants are more likely to experience insecure attachment patterns with their primary caregivers and that mothers with a history of substance abuse are less sensitive to their infants’ cues. Therefore, the aim of this research was to explore nurses’ and midwives’ experiences in promoting the attachment relationship for infants admitted to an NICU/SCN with NAS. A qualitative research design was used to gather data on the experiences of nine nurses/midwives from various NICU and SCN settings in Australia. Individual, semi-structured interviews were conducted, and transcribed interviews were coded using thematic analysis. While nurses/midwives valued the attachment relationship for infants with NAS, facilitation of the attachment relationship was mainly promoted when the mother was present. However, parents were often reported to be absent from the nursery. Difficulties in promoting an attachment relationship were also identified when an infant had child protection involvement. This research identifies areas in need of innovative change regarding the approach taken to promote the attachment relationship for infants with NAS when they are admitted to an NICU/SCN.This publication has 28 references indexed in Scilit:
- Maternal and neonatal outcomes following methadone substitution during pregnancyArchiv für Gynäkologie, 2012
- Annual Research Review: Parenting and children’s brain development: the end of the beginningJournal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 2011
- Qualitative research interviewsPsychotherapy Research, 2009
- Early Contact versus Separation: Effects on Mother–Infant Interaction One Year LaterBirth, 2009
- Neonatal abstinence syndrome—postnatal ward versus neonatal unit managementEuropean Journal of Pediatrics, 2009
- Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome: Reconstructing the EvidenceNeonatal Network, 2007
- Separation distress call in the human neonate in the absence of maternal body contactActa Paediatrica, 1995
- Biobehavioral Organization in Securely and Insecurely Attached InfantsChild Development, 1993
- Biobehavioral Organization in Securely and Insecurely Attached InfantsChild Development, 1993
- Maternal AttachmentThe New England Journal of Medicine, 1972