BackgroundNeonatal transports often implies a separation of the infant from the parents, a separation that might be associated with stress.

Aim Describe parents’ experiences of two different means of neonatal transporta-tion by ground ambulance, Kangaroo Mother Care position or incubator care.

Method 14 parents participated, 9 were transported in KMC position and 5 in a trans-port incubator. Open interviews were performed during the first week post transport and analysed using a qualitative content analysis.

ResultsKANGAROO MOTHER CARE The mothers using KMC position were satisfied being close to their infant during the transport, it reduced their level of stress. They felt important as a parent since they could communicate their infant’s need to the accompanying staff. They sensed they were able to protect their infant by holding it close to their own body.

INCUBATOR TRANSPORTThe mothers in the incubator transport group were concerned be-fore and during the transport and found it stressful to be separated from their infant. One mother expressed it as “it felt like a hole opened”. At the same time they could feel confident that the staff took care of their child during the transport when they were not present

PIA LUNDQVISTDepartment of Health Sciences,

Faculty of Medicine, Lund University,

Sweden

Contact: pia.lundqvist@med.lu.se

LISBETH JÖNSSON Department of Health Sciences,

Faculty of Medicine, Lund University,

Sweden

BO SELANDER Neonatal Unit, Central Hospital,

Kristian stad, Sweden

JONAS WIHLBORG Department of Clinical Sciences,

Faculty of Medicine, Lund University,

Sweden

JOHANNES VAN DEN BERG Department of Clinical Sciences,

Pediatrics, Umeå University, Sweden

PARENTS’ EXPERIENCEKANGAROO MOTHER CARE VERSUS INCUBATOR CARE DURING GROUND AMBULANCE NEONATAL TRANSPORTS IN SWEDEN

CONCLUSION

Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) during transport seems to support

parents’ parental role and a family centred approached and be less stressful.