Background: Having an infant requiring care in a Neonatal Intensive CareUnit (NICU) is challenging for parents, often the beginning of a journeyof stress and worry for parents. Such situations could cause difficulties inproblem solving and communication within the family and result indecreased family functioning.Aim: The overall aim of the thesis was to investigate parents' experienceswhen their children have needed NICU in the newborn period, and toinvestigate parents' experiences and effects of a family-centredintervention.

Method: Data was collected through interviews with parents of infantsrequiring NICU care (I) and six months after the intervention with FamilyHealth Conversations (IV), analysed using thematic analysis (I) andqualitative content analysis (IV). Questionnaire data was collected inconjunction with inclusion (n=147) (II, III), and five (n=113) and eight(n=92) months after inclusion (III). The questionnaire included measuresto assess mental health symptoms, bonding, family wellbeing, and familyfunctioning. Quantitative data was analysed with descriptive andinferential statistics (II, III).

Results: The results of study I were presented as two themes: interactionswithin the family, and interactions between parents and staff. Interpersonalinteractions could both facilitate and hinder in the sense of becoming aparent and a family. In study II nearly 40% of the parents reported anxietysymptoms. Mothers reported more mental health issues than non-birthingparents. Depression was associated with bonding difficulties and familywellbeing. In the longitudinally study (III) the intervention trended towardpositive effects on mental health, family well-being, and familyfunctioning. However, the estimated effects were not statisticallysignificant. Regardless of the intervention, mental health symptomsdecreased over time, whereas family well-being and functioning remainedstable. Parents experienced the Family Health Conversations (IV) as anopportunity to co-create a comprehensive picture of what had happenedafter their child was born.

Conclusion: The process of becoming a parent and a family could benefitfrom a systemic approach, focusing on the family as a unit, as individuals,and as parents with unique needs and experiences.