# Postpartum Health in Mothers of Preterm Infants in the NICU: Needs, Service Utilization, and Care Gaps—A Systematic Review

## TL;DR

Mothers of preterm infants in the NICU face unmet postpartum health needs, including emotional, informational, and physical support, which current care systems fail to adequately address.

## Contribution

This systematic review identifies specific maternal care gaps and barriers in NICU settings, emphasizing the need for integrated postpartum support.

## Key findings

- Psychological and emotional needs, such as anxiety and fear for infant survival, are consistently reported among mothers of preterm infants.
- Informational and physical needs, including fatigue and pain, are frequently unmet despite available nursing and lactation services.
- Structural barriers like transportation and financial burden limit maternal engagement with psychosocial and postpartum follow-up services.

## Abstract

Background/Objectives: Mothers of preterm infants face complex postpartum challenges, yet their needs are often overlooked in neonatal care. This review synthesizes evidence on maternal health needs, service utilization, perceived adequacy, and barriers to care. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycINFO identified 16 peer-reviewed studies published between 2007 and 2025 on mothers of preterm infants. A narrative synthesis integrated quantitative and qualitative findings from NICU settings. Results: Across 16 included studies, all reported psychological and emotional needs, with anxiety, distress, and fear for infant survival frequently highlighted. Informational needs were identified in 11 studies, particularly regarding infant care and postpartum guidance. Physical needs were reported in 10 studies, including fatigue and pain affecting NICU engagement. Nursing support and lactation services were consistently accessed, whereas psychosocial services and postpartum follow-up were reported in fewer than half of the studies. Perceived adequacy depended on empathetic, individualized communication, while structural and contextual barriers, such as transportation, financial burden, and NICU policies, limited maternal engagement. Despite available services, gaps in emotional, informational, and practical support persisted. Conclusions: Mothers of preterm infants experience substantial postpartum health needs that are insufficiently addressed within current NICU-centered care structures. Integrating maternal-focused, continuous, and psychosocially informed postpartum care into neonatal services is essential to reduce care gaps and support maternal well-being during NICU hospitalization.