Parents’ Shared Experiences of Separation From Their Newborns After Birth in Denmark

OBJECTIVE: To explore parents' shared experiences of separation from their newborns after birth in Denmark.

DESIGN: Phenomenological hermeneutic design.

SETTING: A NICU in the Capital Region of Denmark.

PARTICIPANTS: Four sets of parents (N = 8) with prematurely born neonates who were admitted to the NICU.

METHODS: We used dyadic interviews for data collection. We applied a phenomenological hermeneutic approach inspired by Ricoeur's theory of interpretation to analyze the data.

RESULTS: Two overarching themes emerged that reflected two distinct temporal phases of separation. Initial separation caused an experience of becoming parents at different paces. Separation based on care needs (i.e., the NICU vs. maternity unit) left parents at the juncture between separation and closeness.

CONCLUSION: Separation from their newborns complicated parents' transitions into parenthood. Their sense of unity was undermined when different units assumed responsibility for the mother and newborn. This challenged family-centered care. Our findings indicate the need to minimize separation through initiatives such as zero separation and couplet care.