Abstract
During antenatal consultation of women hospitalized for preterm labor, information of possible adverse outcomes is provided. This may however create additional maternal stress and raise some ethical concerns. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of antenatal consultation by a neonatologist on maternal stress after delivery of a preterm infant admitted to NICU. In this study, secondary outcome parameters of a prospective two-center pilot observational study were analyzed. Mothers of preterm neonates < 36 weeks of gestation admitted at two tertiary-level Neonatal-Intensive-Care-Units (NICU) were included. Maternal stress was assessed with the Parental-Stress-Scale:NICU (PSS:NICU) within 72 h after birth. PSS:NICU measures three scales: "relationship and parental role," "sights and sounds," and "baby looks and behaves." Maternal sociodemographic data were collected by questionnaire administered at the same time. Mothers who received antenatal neonatal consultation were matched for gestational age and compared to mothers who had no antenatal consultation by a neonatologist. A total of 46 mothers of preterm neonates were included, 23 mothers in each group. There was no significant difference in sociodemographic data between the two groups regarding neonates and mothers. There were no significant differences between the two groups regarding stress scales of "sights and sounds" (2.00 ± 0.76 versus 2.19 ± 0.79; p = 0.402), "looks and behaves" (2.55 ± 0.90 versus 2.48 ± 0.94; p = 0.732) and "relationship and parental role" (3.28 ± 1.23 versus 3.46 ± 1.07; p = 0.517). Our study demonstrated that antenatal consultation by a neonatologist had no substantial influence on postnatal maternal stress in mothers of preterm neonates admitted to the NICU.
Highlights
Already 70 years ago data suggested that maternal emotional stress during pregnancy might affect the fetus [1]
Our study demonstrated that antenatal consultation by a neonatologist had no substantial influence on postnatal maternal stress in mothers of preterm neonates admitted to the NICU
Twenty-three mothers of preterm infants with antenatal consultation by a neonatologist were matched for gestational age to 23 mothers of preterm infants without antenatal consultation by a neonatologist
Summary
Already 70 years ago data suggested that maternal emotional stress during pregnancy might affect the fetus [1]. More than 50 years ago several studies demonstrated an association of maternal experiences and emotional stress during pregnancy and the health of the infant resulting in an impaired level of motor development [2]. The differences in stress level between parents of preterm and term neonates are described to be small [4]. Neurobehavioral development of these sick neonates depends on parental stress and preterm birth is associated with altered parental mental health and family wellbeing after birth [3, 5, 6]. During antenatal consultation of women hospitalized for preterm labor, information of possible adverse outcomes is provided. This may create additional maternal stress and raise some ethical concerns
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