The forgotten mothers of extremely preterm babies: A qualitative study.
Cathrine Fowler, Janet Green, Doug Elliott and 2 others
PMID 30786101WHAT IT FOUND
Mothers of extremely preterm babies described ongoing trauma, isolation and fear of failing motherhood.
Only one participant received all three recommended psychosocial assessments.
Key findings
01Mothers described ongoing emotional distress from pregnancy through NICU stay and home, including fear of the unknown, life-and-death events and separation from their babies.
02Only one participant had received all three recommended psychosocial assessments; four had none, two had one and three had two.
03Mothers felt isolated and unable to leave their vulnerable babies with others, which reduced self-care and social support.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study interviewed only ten mothers, so it cannot show how common these experiences are among parents of extremely preterm babies. The participants were mothers only, and partners, other family members and health professionals were not interviewed. Interviews were conducted by telephone, so facial expressions and body movements could not be observed. The women gave birth in different hospitals in Australia, and services and transition practices may differ elsewhere. The study did not diagnose PTSD, measure mental health outcomes, or test whether any support or assessment changes outcomes.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read these themes as proof that the mothers have PTSD or that any support programme prevents mental illness. This was a qualitative study of ten mothers, and it did not diagnose conditions or test interventions.