Schlembach D, Simeoni U, Nagy Bonnard L, Bernloehr A, Cetin I, Gente M, Grosek S, Jourdain G, Rossi R, Roth-Kleiner M
Click on the image to read the standard in brief.
Target group
Pregnant women, their partners, and families
User group
Healthcare professionals, neonatal units, hospitals, and health services
Statement of standard
Pregnant women and their partners receive complete and accurate personalised information and support during pregnancy and childbirth to achieve efficient, optimal and respectful collaboration.
Rationale
In order to achieve efficient and effective collaboration, parents must receive accurate and understandable information during pregnancy and birth. Better collaboration with parents will be achieved by timely and interdisciplinary counselling in a language they can easily understand. (1–5)
This should comprise of a comprehensive counselling/advice on pre-conceptional and maternal issues, sexual and reproductive health, healthy lifestyle, healthy pregnancy, and place and mode of delivery. (1,3–20)
Pregnancy and childbirth represent a critical time period when a woman can be supported through a variety of interventions aimed at reducing the risk of preterm birth and improving her health and that of her unborn infant. (8,10–23) This includes basic antenatal care, identification of women at risk for pregnancy complications and preterm birth, allowing preventive measures and therapeutic interventions to be implemented in cases of threatened preterm delivery (i.e. tocolytics, antibiotics, antenatal corticosteroids for lung maturation, and magnesium sulphate for neuroprotection). (1–28)
Benefits
Better informed pregnant women and their partners (3–10,12,13,16–20)
Reduced risk and early recognition of pregnancy complications allowing earlier prophylactic and therapeutic treatments (1,11–15,23–28)
Better informed parents in situations necessitating consensual decisions such as preterm labour or preterm delivery and/or postnatal care (1–20)
Improved parental confidence when interacting with healthcare professionals (2–20)
Reduced stress and anxiety for parents (2–20)
Components of the standard
Component
Grading of evidence
Indicator of meeting the standard
For parents and family
(Pregnant) women are informed by healthcare professionals about risk factors, symptoms/signs for impending pregnancy complications and information on patient organisations. (1,3,4,9,16)
A (High quality) B (High quality)
Patient information sheet1
Parents are informed by healthcare professionals about available techniques and procedures for diagnosis, and therapies, including associated risks. (1,9)
A (High quality) B (High quality)
Patient information sheet1
Parents receive timely counselling with trained and experienced multidisciplinary staff to discuss their fears and concerns and to make informed decisions about the pregnancy and their infant. (1,3,5,6,8)
A (High quality) B (High quality)
Clinical records, parent feedback, patient information sheet1, training documentation
A unit policy on collaboration with parents in ante- and perinatal care is adhered to by all healthcare professionals.
B (High quality)
Audit report2
Training on communicating clinical information to parents to ensure they receive relevant information is attended by all healthcare professionals. (31,32)
A (High quality) B (High quality)
Parent feedback, training documentation
Data used to counsel parents set local specific data in context of national outcomes.
B (High quality)
Audit report2, guideline
For neonatal unit
A unit policy on collaboration with parents in ante- and perinatal care is available and regularly updated.
B (High quality)
Audit report2
The neonatal and obstetric teams work together to produce information for mothers with high-risk pregnancies and jointly counsel parents
B (High quality)
Clinical records, parent feedback
For hospital
Training on communicating clinical information to parents in ante- and perinatal care is ensured.
B (High quality)
Training documentation
Accommodation is available for the partner in the hospital or nearby and other family members are allowed to visit. (5,33–35)
A (High quality) B (High quality)
Audit report2
Satisfaction with parent information and communication are regularly audited.
B (High quality)
Audit report2, parent feedback
For health service
A national guideline on collaboration with parents in ante- and perinatal care is available and regularly updated.
B (High quality)
Guideline
Parent representatives contribute to the development of a guideline for high-risk pregnancies and infants.
B (Moderate quality)
Guideline
1The indicator ‘patient information sheet’ is an example for written, detailed information, in which digital solutions are included, such as web-based systems, apps, brochures, information leaflets, and booklets.
2The indicator ‘audit report” can also be defined as a benchmarking report.
Where to go
Further development
Grading of evidence
For parents and family
Women of reproductive age are informed about healthy lifestyle in preparation for pregnancy by healthcare professionals.
B (Moderate quality)
For healthcare professionals
Offer second opinions for important decisions.
B (Moderate quality)
For neonatal unit
N/A
For hospital
N/A
For health service
Provide public information concerning management, survival and outcomes for infants born at extremely low gestation deliveries or with major anomalies.
B (Moderate quality)
Getting started
Initial steps
For parents and family
Parents are verbally informed about the importance of healthy pregnancy and about the risks and symptoms of preterm birth by healthcare professionals.
For healthcare professionals
Attend training on communicating clinical information to parents in ante- and perinatal care.
Establish joint counselling between the neonatal and obstetric teams.
Develop strategies to allow parents to take their parental role.
For neonatal unit
Develop and implement a policy on collaboration with parents in ante- and perinatal care.
Develop information material on pregnancy complications and preterm birth including relevant support groups.
Facilitate prenatal visits to NICU.
For hospital
Support healthcare professionals to participate in training on communicating clinical information to parents in ante- and perinatal care.
Develop strategies and resources to support parents in their wider societal context.
For health service
Develop and implement a national guideline on collaboration with parents in ante- and perinatal care.
Engage parent representatives in perinatal healthcare planning.
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November 2018 / 1st edition / next revision: 2023
Recommended citation
EFCNI, Schlembach D, Simeoni U et al. European Standards of Care for Newborn Health: Collaboration with parents in ante- and perinatal care. 2018.
