Prevalences and predictive factors of maternal trauma through 18 months after premature birth: A longitudinal, observational and descriptive study

Abstract

Posttraumatic reactions are common among mothers of preterm infants and can have a negative influence on their quality of life and lead to interactional difficulties with their baby. Given the possible trajectories of posttraumatic reactions, we hypothesized that prevalences of postpartum posttraumatic reactions at given times underestimate the real amount of mothers experiencing these symptoms within 18 months following delivery. Additionally, we examined whether sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of dyads influence the expression of posttraumatic symptoms among these mothers. A sample of 100 dyads was included in this longitudinal study led by 3 french university hospitals. Preterm infants born before 32 weeks of gestation and their mothers were followed-up over 18 months and attended 5 visits assessing the infants’ health conditions and the mothers’ psychological state with validated scales. Fifty dyads were retained through the 18 months of the study. The period prevalence of posttraumatic reactions was calculated and a group comparison was conducted to determine their predictive factors. Thirty-six percent of the mothers currently suffered from posttraumatic symptoms 18 months after their preterm delivery. The 18 months period prevalence was 60.4% among all the mothers who participated until the end of the follow-up. There was a statistical link between posttraumatic symptoms and a shorter gestational age at delivery, C-section, and the mother’s psychological state of mind at every assessment time. Only a small proportion of mothers were receiving psychological support at 18 months. Preterm mothers are a population at risk of developing a long-lasting postpartum posttraumatic disorder, therefore immediate and delayed systematic screenings for posttraumatic symptoms are strongly recommended to guide at-risk mothers towards appropriate psychological support.

RETRACTED ARTICLE: Mothers’ experiences of caring for preterm babies at home: qualitative insights from an urban setting in a middle-income country

“…To enhance a positive experience, the mother must be supported to ensure she is physically fit and not overly drained so she can perform her role effectively [4,25]. Hypervigilance can be channeled to a more positive use so that it does not predispose the mother to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) which can affect her overall quality of life [30,31].…”

“…Psychosocial assessment before discharge is a good first step to identify risks that may affect the mothers' adaptation, identify the need for additional support services and possibly refer to mental health experts [30,31]. Health professionals must also anticipate the informational and social needs of the mother and develop a comprehensive plan for continuous follow-up.…”

Associations of Maternal-Infant Bonding with Maternal Mental Health, Infant’s Characteristics and Socio-Demographical Variables in the Early Postpartum Period: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…PTB is perceived by parents as a traumatic event [15] that disturbs the transition to parenthood. Mothers who experienced PTB and have their newborn hospitalized in the NICU are vulnerable to a long-lasting postpartum posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) [16][17][18] and postpartum depression in assessments performed up to 6 months after childbirth [19]. Grekin and O'Hara [20], based on a meta-analysis, have reported that the mean prevalence of postpartum PTSD was oscillated at 3.1% with the following risk factors: psychiatric history, postpartum depression, and complications during pregnancy, labor, and delivery.…”

Interacciones entre las madres y sus bebés prematuros moderados durante la hospitalización

“…El parto prematuro puede ser un evento estresante y traumático tanto para los padres como para los bebés, para quienes implica nacer en una condición de mayor vulnerabilidad 1,2 . Los infantes prematuros tienen un mayor riesgo de morbilidad y mortalidad que los niños de término y aquellos que sobreviven pueden presentar alteraciones en su desarrollo cognitivo, motor y/o social [3][4] .…”