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Objective: The aim of the study was to explore the experience of premature infants' mothers, the way they are taken care of, how they cope with this traumatic experience as well as the psychopathological and psychosocial consequences post delivery. Method: A qualitative and quantitative study was carried out on 27 women from the south of France area who delivered preterm infants still hospitalised in a neonatal intensive care unit. Two questionnaires were completed, the IES-R and the EPDS, assessing posttraumatic stress and postpartum depressive symptoms. A semi-structured interview was also conducted. Results: Trauma of premature birth and caesarean, feelings of guilt, anxiety, ambivalence towards the infant, the medical staff and the infant's hospital discharge, were all part of their perception. Furthermore, difficulties for mothers to define themselves as such and the importance of sharing with women who have been through the same experience were evidenced. Postpartum depression and posttraumatic stress disorder were also highlighted. Conclusion: Our findings highlight that premature birth can be traumatic and lead to the development of psychopathological symptoms. Moreover, this study suggests the need to develop a specific support focusing on the sharing of experience and prevention in order to prevent disorders from developing.

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This research shows the need for further work on maternal burn-out to better understand and prevent this syndrome.

Objective: Miscarriage is a frequent pregnancy complication often accompanied by psychological distress. The current study seeks to query women about their desire for support following miscarriage and specific aspects of content, type and timing of support. Method: An experimenter-designed questionnaire was presented to Internet forums dealing with miscarriage or gynecological medical information. Three hundred and five women participated in the study. Results:The majority of women indicated that they would appreciate support following miscarriage. All proposed interventions appeared useful to women, particularly those dealing with the medical aspects of miscarriage. Women indicated that they felt poorly informed following miscarriage and had particular difficulty dealing with the emotional impact of their miscarriage. Conclusion: The results emphasise the need for providing more comprehensive care for women who have experienced miscarriage and provide information about how support could be best provided