A Parent's Perspective: Having a Newborn with Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy Who Undergoes Therapeutic Hypothermia

Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) in newborns is a brain injury caused by lack of oxygen or blood flow to the brain around the time of birth. HIE occurs in 1.5 to 2.5 per 1000 live births in developed countries with 40-60% of infants dying before 2 years old or living with severe disabilities. Therapeutic hypothermia is considered a landmark intervention and the standard of care for babies with HIE and focuses on preventing further brain damage. Therapeutic hypothermia is a 72-hour process, and parents are separated from their newborn baby during intervention. This study is a phenomenological qualitative design in progress at this time. Parent interviews are conducted to gain perspective of their experience. Desired outcomes include: (1) building a community for parents who share this unexpected experience, and (2) using narratives to increase occupational therapy knowledge regarding intervention and therapeutic strategies for family support and education.