Feeding Difficulties in Late Preterm Infants and Their Impact on Maternal Mental Health and the Mother-Infant Relationship: A Literature Review.

Late preterm infants constitute the largest subset of premature infants and are more likely to experience feeding issues leading to delayed oral feeding independence and low breastfeeding rates. Considering the increased parental concern about their infants' nutrition and growth, we performed a literature review to provide an update on the feeding challenges faced by late preterm infants and the impact of these issues on maternal mental health and the mother-infant relationship. Based on our findings, late preterm infants have a high prevalence of feeding difficulties which need to be addressed by targeted support interventions to promote breastfeeding success and the establishment of a harmonious dyadic interaction between the mother and her infant, all of which contribute to the prevention of altered feeding behavior later in life.

Hospital-acquired skin lesions in the neonatal intensive care unit: A retrospective analysis of temporal trends and quality improvement strategies.

Purpose: Skin lesions in neonatal population are an emerging problem deserving attention from health care professionals. The purpose of this study is to retrospectively assess the incidence of hospital-acquired skin lesions during a 6-year period and to describe the characteristics of infants who developed them.

Design And Methods: This was a retrospective observational study conducted in a university-tertiary care center between 2015 and 2020.

Parent's Health Locus of Control and Its Association with Parents and Infants Characteristics: An Observational Study.

The Parent Health Locus of Control (PHLOC) investigates the individual's beliefs about the factors that govern their state of health and that of their children. The direct association between PHLOC and preventive health behaviours compliance has already been demonstrated in the literature. However, it is still unclear how socio-demographic variables affect the PHLOC.

Near-infrared system's efficiency for peripheral intravenous cannulation in a level III neonatal intensive care unit: a cross-sectional study.

Venipuncture is a painful and invasive procedure for hospitalised newborns and represents a challenge for neonatal healthcare professionals. This study evaluated the most efficient cannulation method based on the proportion of success at the first attempt, standard care or near-infrared (NIR) device use, and pain assessment. An observational study with two arms was conducted in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of a tertiary-care university hospital in Italy.

[The use of International Classification for Nursing Practice (ICNP) in pediatric and neonatal settings: literature review].

Introduction: Literature reports that the use of Standardized Nursing Terminology contributes to a better implementation of nursing care and patients' safety and to do research. ICNP  is an international and combinatorial standard terminology proposal by ICN, adaptable to different settings, among which paediatric and neonatal.

Methods: A literature review on different databases (Medline/Pubmed, CINAHL, Embase, Web of Science and Scopus) was conducted to investigate the use of ICNP  in professional practice in paediatric and neonatal settings.

Pilot Feasibility Study of a Hospital-Based Post-Natal Educational Intervention on New Mothers in a BFHI-Compliant Tertiary Referral Center for Neonatal Care.

The immediate post-partum period offers a valuable opportunity for parental education on various health topics. The aim of this study was to pilot test the feasibility in a tertiary referral center for neonatal care of a post-natal educational intervention (the Diary) designed to provide mothers with basic information concerning newborn care and breastfeeding. Furthermore, we aimed to evaluate its effect on exclusive breastfeeding rates at discharge and at 48 h post-discharge, and on maternal perceived support during hospital stay, compared to standard care.

Cord Blood Platelet Gel as a Treatment of Occipital Pressure Injuries in Newborns: Report of Two Cases.

Background: A Pressure Ulcer (PU) is a severe event and could create discomfort to newborns. In newborns, one of mostly stricken location by PU is occipital area. Recent studies have highlighted that Cord Blood Platelet Gel (CBPG) might be a better alternative compared to traditional treatment.

Exploring the Impact of Restricted Partners' Visiting Policies on Non-Infected Mothers' Mental Health and Breastfeeding Rates during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Changes in perinatal care occurring during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may negatively affect mothers' mental health and breastfeeding. This study, performed between April and May 2020, aimed to investigate the effect of restricted partners' visiting policies on non-infected mother's anxiety symptoms, the perceived postpartum support, and the breastfeeding outcomes at discharge. A cross-sectional study was conducted in a neonatal tertiary referral center in northern Italy during Italy's lockdown.

Post-partum Hospital Stay and Mothers' Choices on Breastfeeding and Vaccines: A Chance We Should Not Miss.

Parents' education and knowledge regarding major topics of children's health, such as nutrition and vaccines, have a paramount role. However, breastfeeding rates in first year of life are lower than recommended, and vaccine hesitancy is progressively spreading. To reverse this harmful trend, healthcare professionals are challenged to promote correct health information.

From dyad to triad: a survey on fathers' knowledge and attitudes toward breastfeeding.

Fathers are known to impact breastfeeding outcomes. We aimed to explore paternal knowledge and attitude toward breastfeeding, and possible association with breastfeeding rates at discharge. In this cross-sectional study, we enrolled 200 fathers of healthy term neonates.

Self-Report and Biological Indexes of Work-Related Stress in Neonatal Healthcare Professionals: A Repeated-Measures Observational Study.

Background: Healthcare providers working in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) are considered at high risk for psychological work-related stress.

Purpose: To evaluate both perceived and biological measures of work-related stress in neonatal healthcare professionals and to compare professionals working in the NICU with their colleagues working in less critical environments (ie, neonatal wards [NWs]).

Methods: The salivary cortisol level at the beginning (CORT-B) and at the end (CORT-E) of a daily work shift was collected once a week for 6 weeks and a psychological questionnaire was submitted to NW and NICU workers of a tertiary university center.

Heart-rate agreement between ECG and a new, wireless device during early skin-to-skin contact.

Aim: To assess the agreement of heart rate (HR) between the new device - a fabric jacket for neonates, with integrated sensors detecting ECG signals and a Bluetooth connection to a computer (ComfTech, HOWDY) - and the clinical reference, ECG, during the skin-to-skin contact (SSC) in the first 2 h after birth, for the potential use of early detection of Sudden and Unexpected Postnatal Collapse (SUPC).

Methods: We enrolled newborns ≥35 weeks of gestation, with Apgar score >8 at 5 min in a prospective, observational study in the delivery room, excluding infants with need for resuscitation, clinical instability or major malformations. We assessed HR within 20 min after birth by both devices simultaneously: the index test ComfTech HOWDY and the standard ECG (Vita Guard VG 3100, Getemed).

Nurses in Family Pediatric Practices: A Survey of the Health Protection Agency of the Metropolitan City of Milan.

Purpose: Primary pediatric care in Italy is guaranteed by family pediatricians, who may have their own private offices or work in group clinics that also have nurses/pediatric nurses in order to enrich their offer of services. The aim of this study was to investigate the activities of nurses working in pediatric practices in order to identify and classify the nursing healthcare services offered by the practices themselves.

Design And Study: An observational study was conducted including nurses working in the pediatricians' offices who voluntarily agreed to undergo a semi-structured interview.

Exploring the Emotional Breastfeeding Experience of First-Time Mothers: Implications for Healthcare Support.

Among breastfeeding determinants, the unique emotional breastfeeding experience has been poorly explored. The present study aimed to investigate the emotional breastfeeding experience in a cohort of first-time mothers. We conducted a prospective observational study that enrolled primiparas having delivered singleton healthy term newborns, and exclusively breastfeeding at hospital discharge.

Knowledge and attitude of health staff towards breastfeeding in NICU setting: are we there yet? An Italian survey.

The benefits of human milk in preterm infants, a population at high risk for developing adverse outcomes for which breast milk is a protective factor, are widely acknowledged. However, preterms' admission in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and newborn's clinical conditions have been described as significant barriers, leading to lower rates of breastfeeding initiation and duration. Healthcare workers play a crucial role in encouraging breastfeeding.

Overcoming Rooming-In Barriers: A Survey on Mothers' Perspectives.

The importance of rooming-in in promoting breastfeeding initiation and continuation within the 10 Steps for Successful Breastfeeding is widely acknowledged. However, adherence to this practice by healthcare facilities is lower than that of other Steps. A deeper knowledge of maternal rooming-in experience has been advocated to identify the most effective rooming-in policies, thus enabling mothers to have a positive experience when practicing it in the postpartum period.

Effect of Target Fortification on Osmolality and Microbiological Safety of Human Milk Over Time.

Objectives: The fortification of human milk can result in increased osmolality, which may be associated with adverse effects for preterm infants. To evaluate the effect of target fortification on the osmolality and microbiological safety of donor human milk and raw mature milk during the first 72 hours of storage.

Methods: We performed target fortification of 63 pasteurized donor human milk (PDHM) and 54 raw mature milk (RMM) samples in a laminar flow hood.

Robotic Therapy: Cost, Accuracy, and Times. New Challenges in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

The medication process in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), can be challenging in terms of costs, time, and the risk of errors. Newborns, especially if born preterm, are more vulnerable to medication errors than adults. Recently, robotic medication compounding has reportedly improved the safety and efficiency of the therapeutic process.

Breastfeeding Difficulties and Risk for Early Breastfeeding Cessation.

Although breast milk is the normative feeding for infants, breastfeeding rates are lower than recommended. We investigated breastfeeding difficulties experienced by mothers in the first months after delivery and their association with early breastfeeding discontinuation. We conducted a prospective observational study.

Exploring the Gap Between Needs and Practice in Facilitating Breastfeeding Within the Neonatal Intensive Care Setting: An Italian Survey on Organizational Factors.

The system-level factors of the neonatal intensive care unit work environment contribute to breastfeeding promotion in the preterm population. The aim of this study was to investigate the operative policies related to breastfeeding support in a sample of Italian Neonatal Intensive Care Units. A multicenter cross-sectional survey was conducted, including a sample of 17 head nurses.

Knowledge of Health Professionals Regarding Vegetarian Diets from Pregnancy to Adolescence: An Observational Study.

The number of people adopting vegetarian diets is constantly increasing, and many among them are young parents who decide to share their diet with their children. The aim of this study was to investigate health professionals' knowledge regarding the adoption of vegetarian diets from pregnancy to adolescence. A cross-sectional survey was conducted.

Do a Few Weeks Matter? Late Preterm Infants and Breastfeeding Issues.

The late preterm infant population is increasing globally. Many studies show that late preterm infants are at risk of experiencing challenges common to premature babies, with breastfeeding issues being one of the most common. In this study, we investigated factors and variables that could interfere with breastfeeding initiation and duration in this population.

Complementary Feeding Practices in a Cohort of Italian Late Preterm Infants.

Limited data are available on complementary feeding in preterm infants, who show increased nutritional needs and are at risk of altered postnatal growth. The aim of this study was to investigate the timing and content of complementary feeding in a cohort of late preterm infants. We conducted a prospective, observational study, including mothers who had given birth to infants admitted to level I or II of care with a gestational age between 34 and 36 weeks.