Feeding and Readiness: The Transition from Hospital-to-Home with a Late-Preterm Infant

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dc.contributor.advisorMcNeil, Deborah
dc.contributor.advisorBouchal, Shelley Raffin
dc.contributor.authorShillington, Jessica
dc.contributor.committeememberScotland, Jeanne
dc.contributor.committeememberPremji, Shahirose Sadrudin J.E.
dc.date2020-02
dc.date.accessioned2020-01-16T18:56:23Z
dc.date.available2020-01-16T18:56:23Z
dc.date.issued2020-01
dc.description.abstractIn comparison to full-term infants, late-preterm infants (34 0/7 and 36 6/7 weeks’ gestation) have a greater likelihood of morbidity and a three-fold increased risk for mortality. Parents of late-preterm infants have identified inadequate preparation to manage their newborn’s unique needs at home, yet little is known about their hospital discharge experience. This study aims to describe the perspectives of parents surrounding their transition from hospital-to-home with their late-preterm infant. Twelve parents, nine mothers and three fathers, were recruited from Calgary, Alberta, and shared their experiences through in-person interviews and one focus group. Interpretative description was used to guide the study, and data were analyzed through interpretive thematic analysis and description. Key themes from the parents’ experiences were revealed to be "Fed is best" and "Feeling ready". These two themes support parents’ “Transition from hospital-to-home with their late-preterm infant” and are influenced by contextual attributes, including "Previous parenting experience" and the "Discharge care setting". Parents described verbal approval from healthcare professionals, early community follow-up, and discharge teaching specific to the unique characteristics of a late-preterm infant to increase their feelings of readiness to transition home. Parents found the care of their late-preterm infant to be normalized, particularly on the postpartum unit. Feeding was found to be the most significant challenge parents’ experienced, and the parent participants expressed a “fed is best” stance indicating that breastmilk is nutritionally superior, yet they feel the most important thing for their newborn is to feed and grow. Mothers and fathers of late-preterm infants need support from healthcare providers to take care of themselves and to choose a feeding method that works best for them and their infant. In hopes of reducing feeding challenges, parents need education on the characteristics of their late-preterm infant before leaving hospital and to have teaching reinforced in the community.en_US
dc.identifier.citationShillington, J. (2020). Feeding and Readiness: The Transition from Hospital-to-Home with a Late-Preterm Infant (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.en_US
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/37467
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1880/111510
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.publisher.facultyNursingen_US
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Calgaryen
dc.rightsUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.en_US
dc.subjectLate-Preterm Infanten_US
dc.subjectTransitionen_US
dc.subjectInterpretative Descriptionen_US
dc.subjectHospital Dischargeen_US
dc.subjectFeedingen_US
dc.subjectExperienceen_US
dc.subject.classificationNursingen_US
dc.titleFeeding and Readiness: The Transition from Hospital-to-Home with a Late-Preterm Infanten_US
dc.typemaster thesisen_US
thesis.degree.disciplineNursingen_US
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Calgaryen_US
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Nursing (MN)en_US
ucalgary.item.requestcopytrueen_US
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