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According to the March of Dimes report card in 2020, preterm birth and its complications are the second largest contributor of infant death in the U.S., and preterm birth rates have been increasing for five years. With the increasing number of preterm births per year and the substantial economic and social-emotional burden families endure with a NICU experience, mental and physical family-centered health and wellness need to be addressed at the time of NICU admission. Long term effects of even one day of a NICU admission can result in several health-related deficits including increased familial stress, parental and caregiver post-traumatic stress disorder, and infant social-emotional and behavioral deficits to name a few.
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