Expanding the Critical Role of the Neonatal Therapist to Support Parent Well-Being

Mothers of preterm infants are at high risk of post-partum depression and anxiety - nearly 5-7 fold higher than those experienced by mothers of full-term infants. Preterm infants require prolonged medical intervention in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), and infant acuity contributes to maternal mental health problems - ultimately impacting maternal-infant interaction and infant development. This session will describe a novel intervention entitled Therapist Education and Massage for Parent-Infant Outcomes (TEMPO). The goal of this NIH-funded project was to assess parent-rated feasibility and acceptability of TEMPO, a structured, therapist-led program that trained parents to deliver interventions weekly during hospitalization to improve infant motor skills, support maternal-infant interactions, and improve maternal mental health. Preliminary results indicate that TEMPO is highly feasible and acceptable and may contribute to improved parent mental health. This study also examined feasibility of collecting maternal salivary cortisol levels pre- and post-infant massage administration understand potential biological stress responses. Along with preliminary findings, this session will outline evidence to support the critical role of the PT not only in the early development of the preterm infant, but also the role of fostering parent confidence and competency through facilitation of dyadic interaction. Specific components of TEMPO with recommendations for parent education intervals and a massage protocol will be reviewed. Perspectives of study therapists regarding feasibility of weekly parent education and the overall impact of the program will be presented. Finally, we will review next steps for moving this evidence forward including future trial methodology, dissemination, and implementation planning.