Friends of Roadmap Update

January 2024

UPDATES ON THE ROADMAP PROJECT AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH NEWS

Support of Parental Emotional Health

With Unexpected Pregnancy News

Start early and ask often.

Strategies and resources from The Roadmap Project were highlighted at the Annual Meeting of the National Network of Perinatal Quality Collaboratives in December 2023. The importance of addressing emotional health for parents during the prenatal period with an expected premature delivery and/or a fetal diagnosis was emphasized.

"Meeting expectant mothers where they are emotionally is critical to a successful outcome, for the mother and the baby," says Meghann Utrata, pictured above, whose daughter was born at 24 weeks gestation and spent 127 days in the NICU at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio. "Mothers that have had their mental and emotional health supported from the beginning of their antenatal stay are in a better position to take on these challenges and be an active member of their baby's care team," said Utrata.

Examples were shared by neonatologist Dr. Ana Ribeiro (Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospitals) and cardiologist Dr. Corey Stiver (Nationwide Children's Hospital) about the importance of addressing emotional health for parents early and intentionally using the N-A-P-C Approach.

Drs. Ribeiro and Stiver have begun addressing the emotional health of expectant parents during the prenatal period. For both clinicians, it begins at a 22-week prenatal diagnosis and continues throughout the pregnancy.

By noting phrases such as “A lot of families tell us that this is stressful" and "How are you doing?” clinicians are able to help name the anxiety or stress and validate the feelings that come with an unexpected pregnancy diagnosis. It's important for clinicians to create the space to start the conversation.

Roadmap parent partner and certified doula LaToshia Rouse co-authored a recent publication Parent Perspectives: Part 1—Considerations for Changing the NICU Culture which sheds light on the emotional toll of a NICU stay from the parent and family perspective.

A reminder that Roadmap provides a variety of tools & resources on our website to help us all continue making a positive impact on the emotional health of patients and families with chronic conditions.

The Roadmap Project

abp_fdn_project@cchmc.org

www.roadmapforemotionalhealth.org

The Roadmap Project is made possible with support from the American Board of Pediatrics Foundation and the David R. Clare and Margaret C. Clare Foundation.