Use of NICU Education to Decrease Stress for Prenatal Patients on Bed Rest

Abstract

Preterm birth is a leading cause of neonatal death and antepartum bed rest has been a mainstay of treatment to prevent preterm birth. Bed rest can have physiologic, behavioral, social, economic, and emotional impact on families causing undue stress. Providing antenatal education about the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) may decrease maternal stress levels and improve outcomes of premature infants. The purpose of this study was to decrease the amount of perceived stress of high risk pregnant women on bed rest due to pregnancy complications. A quantitative, experimental design with a qualitative component was used. Study participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups: 1) access to a private blog with no further intervention (control group), and 2) access to a private blog plus access to NICU education with an advanced practice nurse via the internet (intervention group). Results of the independent T-test of the 119 subjects who participated in the study showed no significant difference between the two groups; however, a tour of the NICU prior to delivery and NICU education may be beneficial interventions to all high risk women. In conclusion, this study will help health care providers understand more fully the high risk antepartum patient’s experience on bed rest in order to improve the quality of the woman’s care.