Preterm Birth and Maternal Mental Health: Longitudinal Trajectories and Predictors

Abstract

Objective To examine trajectories of psychological distress in mothers of children born very preterm (VPT, <30 weeks gestation) and full term from 2 to 13 years after the birth, and examine predictors of maternal psychological distress over time within the VPT group. Methods Mothers of children born VPT (n = 159) and full term (n = 71) completed questionnaires assessing their psychological distress when their child was 2, 7, and 13 years of age. Mixed models were used to examine differences between groups in maternal psychological distress over time. Family social risk, child neonatal medial risk, child sex, multiple pregnancy, and child’s neurodevelopmental impairment in early childhood were examined as potential predictors of maternal psychological distress within the VPT group. Results Mothers of children born VPT displayed elevated psychological distress compared with mothers of full-term children, and this difference was consistent over time. Higher family social risk was associated with elevated maternal psychological distress throughout childhood across all time-points. There was evidence that mothers of children at higher neonatal medical risk displayed increasing psychological distress over time. Conclusions Mothers of children born VPT show prolonged psychological distress. Mothers from socially disadvantaged background and those whose child has neonatal medical complications may require extensive support to prevent prolonged psychological distress and promote optimal outcomes for children and families.

Longitudinal changes in attachment patterns of preterm infants born in a non‐Western country

“…Besides, the period after preterm birth, including the physical environment of NICU and medical procedures, exacerbates adverse consequences of preterm birth on parental mental health (Treyvaud et al., 2011; Yaari, Treyvaud, Lee, Doyle, & Anderson, 2019). Specifically, parents of preterm infants were reported to have higher levels of stress and elevated rates of symptoms of depression and anxiety compared with parents of term‐born infants (Pace et al., 2016; Yaari et al., 2019), especially within the first year after preterm birth (Brummelte, Grunau, Synnes, Whitfield, & Petrie‐Thomas, 2011). Yet, there are also studies reporting a decrease in anxiety over time with decreasing health risks of a preterm infant (Schmücker et al., 2005).…”

“…Further, infants with both prematurity and sociodemographic disadvantages were prone to have less optimal developmental outcomes compared to infants with prematurity alone (Candelaria, O'Connell, & Teti, 2006; Yaari et al., 2019). Several studies in the literature reported low socioeconomic status (SES; including parental education and income) as a risk factor for developing a secure mother–child attachment (Cyr, Euser, Bakermans‐Kranenburg, & van Ijzendoorn, 2010; De Falco et al., 2014).…”

Pregnancy and Parenting Experiences of Women With Twin-to-twin Transfusion Syndrome: A Qualitative Study

“…16,17 For women experiencing preterm birth, in addition to the negative emotional reactions mentioned above, they worried about the children's health and faced high parenting pressure. 18,19 Our study identi ed that women who encountered miscarriage or preterm birth because of TTTS would had more complex emotions. During pregnancy, in addition to surgery, they also dealt with the uctuation in foetal health, and their mood was calm only after a successful birth.…”

Pregnancy experience and mental state of women undergoing fetoscopic surgery due to Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome：A mixed methods study in Chinese women

“…Women who experience fetal abnormalities, premature birth, or miscarriage may face post-traumatic stress, sadness, anxiety, and/or depression for a long time . 19,20 Women with TTTS have the disadvantages of premature births and miscarriage, and their pregnancy experiences are more complicated. A study indicated that the emotional reactions of whole family experiencing TTTS during pregnancy were like a roller coaster.…”