Beyond the First Wave: Consequences of COVID-19 on High-Risk Infants and Families.

ABSTRACT

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is affecting care for high-risk newborns in ways that will likely be sustained beyond the initial pandemic response. These novel challenges present an urgent imperative to understand how COVID-19 impacts parent, family, and infant outcomes. We highlight three areas that warrant targeted attention (1) inpatient care visitation policies, developmental care, and communication practices; (2) outpatient care high-risk infant follow-up and early intervention programs; and (3) parent psychosocial distress mental health, social support, and financial toxicity. Changes to care delivery in these areas provide an opportunity to identify and implement novel strategies to provide family-centered care during COVID-19 and beyond. KEY POINTS · The COVID-19 pandemic is influencing care delivery for high-risk newborns and their families.. · Rapid changes to care delivery are likely to be sustained beyond the initial pandemic response.. · We have an urgent imperative to understand how COVID-19 impacts infant, parent, and family outcomes..