Maternal psychological impact of medical information in the neonatal period after premature birth

Early Hum Dev. 2009 Dec;85(12):791-3. doi: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2009.10.009. Epub 2009 Nov 24.

Abstract

The mothers of premature infant born 7 years ago were interviewed regarding memory of neonatal hospitalization during a 40-minute phone interview using a questionnaire exploring emotional feeling and satisfaction. The memory of a high emotional feeling was significantly associated with cranial ultrasound abnormalities in neonatal period, but not outcome. Dissatisfaction was reduced by antenatal maternal hospitalization. We speculate that medical information gathered during perinatal hospitalization explains these relationships.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Attitude to Health
  • Emotions
  • Female
  • Hospitalization
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant, Premature / physiology
  • Infant, Premature / psychology
  • Interviews as Topic
  • Maternal Behavior* / physiology
  • Mother-Child Relations
  • Mothers / psychology*
  • Patient Satisfaction
  • Postpartum Period / psychology
  • Pregnancy
  • Premature Birth / psychology*
  • Reproductive History
  • Young Adult