High risk infant: concerns of the mother after discharge.

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This study was undertaken to determine the concerns of mothers of high risk infants and whether they differed from those of mothers of normal newborn infants. Thirty mothers of high risk infants and those of normal newborns, were interviewed in their homes on two separate occasions, at two weeks and again at six weeks after their infants’ hospital discharge. Following a semi‐structured questionnaire format, the mothers were asked to rate their concerns in several areas and to specify concerns they may have had which were not identified on the questionnaire. Areas in which mothers expressed concerns were: feeding, gastrointestinal problems, sleeping, crying, attachment, rashes, appearance, and concerns about the mother herself, her husband, and other children.Mothers of normal newborn infants expressed worries in those areas already identified by the high risk group but they had fewer concerns and a lower degree of concern. However, no mother of a normal newborn infant was concerned about her infant's appearance and there was a tendency for mothers of normal newborn infants to have a more positive perception of their infants.