Study of Doula Support and Care Coordination for Mothers with Preterm Infants in the NICU at University of Pennsylvania

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating a dyad-centered model of postpartum care involving doula support and healthcare coordination in a large urban neonatal intensive care unit NICU that serves a high-risk, low-income, majority Black population. This trial aims to study how this care model affects postpartum stress disorders, depression, anxiety, and follow-up care for mothers who have experienced preterm birth. The study is randomized and focuses on support during the NICU stay and after discharge. Participants in the intervention group will receive doula support and coordination of mental and medical health services while their infants are in the NICU. After discharge from the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania NICU, support will continue through a warm handoff to a community doula. Those in the control group will receive usual care from their own healthcare providers and a resource guide about postpartum follow-up care. The study does not include any masking or blinding. Participants will be followed for at least six months postpartum. Researchers will measure outcomes such as differences in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD scores and depression scores at six months, as well as attendance with a primary care provider within six months and receipt of recommended postpartum care by 12 weeks. The study includes assessments of mental health and healthcare engagement to understand the impact of doula support on postpartum outcomes.

Postpartum Care in the NICU (PeliCaN) Transitions