Table 2.
Content of the themes and the total number of times a theme was brought up by the pediatrician or the parents for all 19 consultations.
| Theme | Content | Values (n=19), n (%) | Introduced by pediatriciana, n (%) | Introduced by parentsa, n (%) |
| Feeding and breastfeeding | Progression of breastfeeding, milk expression, positive effects | 17 (90) | 9 (53) | 8 (47) |
| Introduction | Pediatrician introduces oneself; their tasks; the department; daily program | 14 (74) | 14 (100) | 0 (0) |
| Personal | Personal information about the parents and their lives like work status and psychosocial situation | 14 (74) | 7 (50) | 7 (50) |
| Criteria | Criteria for discharge | 13 (68) | 11 (85) | 2 (15) |
| Postdischarge follow-up | Explanation how postnatal follow-up will be scheduled | 13 (68) | 9 (69) | 4 (31) |
| Respiratory support and caffeine | Supplemental oxygen and pressure, and how these are decreased; medication like caffeine | 12 (63) | 10 (83) | 2 (17) |
| Not care related | Small talk | 11 (59) | 4 (36) | 7 (64) |
| Monitor or alarms | Why and for how long the infant will be connected to the monitor; alarms that went because of low oxygen saturation or low heart rate | 10 (53) | 6 (60) | 4 (40) |
| Department | Opinion and experiences of parents regarding the department; the employees; the nurses; the care; other parents | 10 (53) | 4 (40) | 6 (60) |
| Talking about the future | The preterm’s future; how will they grow up, which problems may they face, school | 8 (42) | 6 (75) | 2 (25) |
| Weight | The weight or growth of the preterm infant. | 8 (42) | 5 (62) | 3 (38) |
| Tube feeding | Whether the preterm is or will be given tube feeding; how much; how long | 8 (42) | 5 (62) | 3 (38) |
| Temperature of the child | Can the preterm keep themselves warm; external source for heating; incubator; phototherapy for icterus | 8 (42) | 6 (75) | 2 (25) |
| Ultrasound or MRIb of the brain | Ultrasound or MRI of the brain; and results of them | 8 (42) | 6 (75) | 2 (25) |
| Vaccinations | Parent’s consent for vaccinations and scheduling | 8 (42) | 6 (75) | 2 (25) |
| Birth | The process, experience, and possible complications of labor | 7 (37) | 1 (14) | 6 (86) |
| Vomiting | If and why the preterm is vomiting (explanations) | 7 (37) | 1 (14) | 6 (86) |
| Height and growth | The length, weight, and growth charts | 7 (37) | 1 (14) | 6 (86) |
| Laboratory values | blood draw; blood transfusions | 7 (37) | 7 (100) | 0 (0) |
| How to care at home | After discharge; what should be paid attention to; differences and similarities from raising a term baby and extra concerns | 7 (37) | 2 (29) | 5 (71) |
| Recap | A recap is given of everything that has happened at the NICUc so far | 6 (32) | 6 (100) | 0 (0) |
| Emotional | The emotional state of the parents regarding the situation; their preterm; the hospital | 6 (32) | 5 (83) | 1 (17) |
| Bowel movements | Bowel movements of the preterm; use of enemas | 6 (32) | 3 (50) | 3 (50) |
| Vitamins | The needed vitamins; iron supplementation | 6 (32) | 4 (67) | 2 (33) |
| Child specific | Issues specific for the preterm | 6 (32) | 4 (67) | 2 (33) |
| Data or counting | How the birth date and age of the preterm should be corrected for regarding growth, and scheduling of vaccinations | 5 (26) | 3 (60) | 2 (40) |
| Infections | Recent infections; chance of infections; antibiotics | 5 (26) | 5 (100) | 0 (0) |
| Eyes (retinopathy) | Explaining why the eyes are checked; ophthalmologist appointments | 4 (21) | 1 (25) | 3 (75) |
| NICU level III experience | How parents experienced their stay at the level III NICU; what happened there before transfer | 4 (21) | 1 (25) | 3 (75) |
| After the NICU | Aftercare by the NICU department; what, when, and how | 3 (16) | 1 (33) | 2 (67) |
| (Possible) operations | Possible operations of the heart, lungs, brain, body are discussed and explained | 2 (11) | 1 (50) | 1 (50) |
| Lungs | Explaining pulmonary edema; lung capacity | 2 (11) | 1 (50) | 1 (50) |
aTotal (n)=252. Introduced by pediatrician=155; introduced by parents=97.
bMRI: magnetic resonance imaging.
cNICU: neonatal intensive care unit.