Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on early intervention utilization and need for referral after NICU discharge in VLBW infants.

Objective: To examine the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on early intervention (EI) services in VLBW infants.

Study Design: 208 VLBW infants seen in NICU follow-up (FU) pre-COVID-19 were compared to 132 infants seen during COVID-19 at 4, 8 and 20 months corrected age (CA) in terms of enrollment in Child and Family Connections (CFC; intake agency for EI), EI therapies, need for CFC referral and Bayley scores.

Results: Infants seen during COVID-19 at 4, 8 and 20 months CA were 3.

Preemie study protocol: a randomised controlled factorial trial testing web-based parent training and coaching with parents of children born very preterm.

Introduction: Children born very preterm (VPT; gestational age <32 weeks) are twice as likely to demonstrate behaviour problems such as aggression, non-compliance, temper tantrums and irritability compared with their term-born peers. While behavioural parent training (BPT), also referred to as behaviour therapy is a gold standard for prevention and treatment of childhood problem behaviours, there are limited accessible and effective BPT interventions for families with children born VPT. The purpose of this paper is to describe a multicentre, randomised controlled protocol for a factorial design trial evaluating the independent and combined effects of the Parent BPT intervention plus brief, weekly coaching calls on parent and child outcomes for families with toddlers born VPT.

Neurodevelopmental Outcome in Very Low Birth Weight Infants Exposed to Donor Milk.

Objective: This study was aimed to evaluate the impact of donor milk (DM) received in the first 28 days of life (DOL) on neurodevelopmental (ND) outcome at 20-months corrected age (CA) in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants.

Study Design: A total of 84 infants born in 2011 to 2012 who received only mother's own milk (MOM) and/or preterm formula (PF) was compared with 69 infants born in 2013 to 2014 who received MOM and/or DM. Daily enteral intake of MOM, DM, and PF was collected through 28 DOL.

Adaptation and Acceptability of a Digitally Delivered Intervention for Parents of Very Low Birth Weight Infants.

Background: Very low birth weight (VLBW) infants are at elevated risk for behavioral problems as early as the second year of life. The purpose of this feasibility study was to evaluate the adaptation and acceptability of an existing digitally delivered behavioral parent training program-the ezParent program, with the addition of weekly coaching calls-for parents of former VLBW infants in their second year of life.

Objectives: To assess the adaptation of ezParent for this population, we assessed parent access and use of ezParent and coaching calls, parent learning of strategies from ezParent, and changes in parenting practices or child behavior after using ezParent plus coaching calls.

Infant, Maternal, and Neighborhood Predictors of Maternal Psychological Distress at Birth and Over Very Low Birth Weight Infants' First Year of Life.

Objective: To use a social-ecological conceptualization to analyze change of maternal distress, defined as depression, anxiety, and perinatal-specific post-traumatic stress (PPTS), across very low birth weight (VLBW) infants' first year of life and to identify infant, maternal, and neighborhood predictors of these changes over time.

Methods: Mothers of VLBW infants (n = 69) completed psychological distress questionnaires 2 to 4 weeks after infant birth, 2 weeks before infant discharge from neonatal intensive care unit, and at infants' 4- and 8-month corrected age (age adjusted for prematurity). Infant and maternal sociodemographic data were collected from medical chart review.

Impact of feeding difficulties in the NICU on neurodevelopmental outcomes at 8 and 20 months corrected age in extremely low gestational age infants.

Objective: The objective of this study is to examine the relationship between neonatal risk factors and feeding difficulties (FDs) in the NICU and the impact of FD on neurodevelopmental (ND) outcome in ELGA infants.

Study Design: Two hundred and eighteen ELGA infants (59 FDs and 159 no-FDs) were compared for neonatal morbidities, feeding milestones, and Bayley-III scores at 8 and 20 mo CA. Multiple regression analyses adjusted for the effect of risk factors on FD and ND outcome.

NICU human milk dose and health care use after NICU discharge in very low birth weight infants.

Objective: To determine the association between human milk (HM) dose and health care utilization at one and 2 years of life in very low birth weight (birth weight < 1500 g; VLBW) infants.

Study Design: This study included 345 VLBW infants enrolled in a prospective observational cohort study (2008-2012) who completed a neonatal high-risk follow-up clinic visit. Subsequent health care utilization included hospitalizations, emergency department visits, pediatric subspecialists, and specialized therapies.

Health Care Utilization after NICU Discharge and Neurodevelopmental Outcome in the First 2 Years of Life in Preterm Infants.

Objective:  The objective of this study was to determine predictors of health care utilization and its association with neurodevelopmental outcome in a recent cohort of preterm infants.

Study Design:  A total of 405 infants (born 2008-2011) seen in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) follow-up were compared for use of hospitalizations (hosps), emergency room (ER), subspecialties (SS), and results of the Bayley-III. High rate of use was defined as having >1 hosp, ER, or SS.

Elevated maternal anxiety in the NICU predicts worse fine motor outcome in VLBW infants.

Aim: The literature is sparse with respect to the impact of elevated maternal psychological distress in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) on later neurodevelopmental outcome in VLBW infants. The objective of this study is to examine the impact of elevated maternal distress, defined as elevated depression, anxiety and perinatal-specific post-traumatic stress, during the NICU hospitalization on VLBW infant ND outcome at 20months corrected age (CA).

Methods: This was a prospective study of 69 mothers and their VLBW infants recruited in 2011-2012.

Resilience in Mothers of Very-Low-Birth-Weight Infants Hospitalized in the NICU.

Objective: To develop the theme of Resilience of mothers of very-low-birth-weight infants in the NICU from a qualitative study on maternal role attainment.

Design: Secondary analysis using retrospective interpretation, that is, the further development and refinement of content related to resilience that was identified in the original data.

Setting: A tertiary NICU in Chicago.

Maternal Education Level Predicts Cognitive, Language, and Motor Outcome in Preterm Infants in the Second Year of Life.

Objective To evaluate the relative impact of maternal education level (MEL) on cognitive, language, and motor outcomes at 20 months' corrected age (CA) in preterm infants. Study Design A total of 177 preterm infants born between 2008 and 2010 were tested at 20 months' CA using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-III. Multiple regression analyses were done to determine the relative impact of MEL on cognitive, language, and motor scores.

Depression, anxiety, and perinatal-specific posttraumatic distress in mothers of very low birth weight infants in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Objective: To compare the trajectories and determine the predictors of maternal distress defined as a continuous spectrum of symptomatology and elevated symptomatology, of depression, anxiety, and perinatal-specific posttraumatic stress (PPTS), in mothers of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants throughout the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) hospitalization.

Method: Sixty-nine mothers completed psychological questionnaires within the first month of their infant's NICU hospitalization and again 2 weeks before NICU discharge. Multiple regression models determined maternal psychological, reproductive, sociodemographic, and infant medical predictors of maternal distress.

Maternal psychological distress and visitation to the neonatal intensive care unit.

Aim: To examine associations between maternal neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) visitation rates, maternal psychological distress ('distress') and preterm infant outcome post-NICU discharge in a contemporary cohort of very low birthweight (VLBW) infants.

Methods: This was a prospective study of 69 mothers and their VLBW infants. Distress was assessed 1-month postbirth, 2 weeks prior to NICU discharge and after NICU discharge at 4-month corrected age (CA).

The role of peer support in the development of maternal identity for "NICU Moms".

Objective: To examine first-time neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) mothers' perceptions of the initial effect and stress of their birth experiences and hospitalizations of their infants and what facilitated or hindered the development of their maternal roles within the context of the NICU.

Design: A qualitative descriptive design.

Setting: A 57-bed, tertiary NICU in Chicago.

Re-evaluating preterm infants with the Bayley-III: patterns and predictors of change.

This study investigates the Third Edition of the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (Bayley-III) and (1) mean difference scores, (2) test-retest correlation coefficients, (3) changes in rates of delay and classification from "delayed" to "not delayed," and (4) infant birth, neonatal and sociodemographic predictors of change in scores from the first to second year of life among 131 preterm infants. Cognitive, Receptive Language and Fine Motor Subscale scores decrease and mean Gross Motor Subscale scores remain consistent from the first to second year of life. Bayley-III test-retest reliability ranged from small/fair to moderate from 8 to 20 months corrected age.

"I have faith in my milk": the meaning of milk for mothers of very low birth weight infants hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Background: Mothers who deliver a premature infant often choose to provide milk because it is the "one thing that only the mother can do" to optimize her infant's outcome, helps mothers feel a connection with their infants, and helps relieve the guilt associated with the preterm birth.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe the meaning of milk for mothers who are providing milk for their very low birth weight (VLBW; < 1500 g) infants hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Methods: Using a qualitative descriptive design, in-depth semistructured interviews were conducted with 23 mothers of VLBW infants hospitalized in a level III NICU.

Evaluating preterm infants with the Bayley-III: patterns and correlates of development.

This study investigates the Third Edition of the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (Bayley-III) and: (1) early patterns of neurodevelopmental performance among preterm infants 8-12 months of age; and (2) correlations between known risk factors and neurodevelopmental outcome of preterm infants in this cohort. Mean Language Index (LI; 91±15) and Motor Index (MI; 94±17) were significantly lower than the Cognitive Index (CI; 102±15, p<.01).