Mothers' mental stress and visits to the newborn intensive care unit

In a cohort of 69 mothers of very low birthweight infants, lower maternal NICU visitation rates were linked to higher maternal depression scores at infants' 4-month corrected age visit.

• A greater number of children in the home and higher exposure to potentially traumatic events prior to childbirth are associated with lower maternal visitation rates.
• Lower maternal visitation rates consistently predict higher maternal depression scores after NICU discharge.
• Maternal NICU visitation rates do not appear to influence post-NICU discharge infant clinic attendance or rehospitalization.
• Maternal psychological distress is identified as a significant predictor of visitation rates.

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