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Abstract
’National Scientific and Practical Centre of Children’s Health’
Of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation
Early delivery of a baby becomes a very stressful situation for a woman. It is known, that qualitative mother’s care of preterm infant and establishing secure attachment in mother-infant dyad can contribute to more rapid stabilisation of the infant’s condition. But most of mothers appear to be unprepared to the situation and are in need of psychological aid during the first months of newborn’s life.
Aim To study adaptation to the role of a preterm infant’s mother in order to specify the areas of psychological aid.
92 mothers (20–45 years old) of preterm infants (gestational age – 26–34 weeks) have been examined in the clinics using the following methods: anamnesis study, interview with mother, interrelations in dyad follow-up, HADS, statistical methods.
Results Most of examined women (82%) had problems with adaptation to mother’s role during the first month of preterm infant’s life. They were divided into 4 groups according to the specifics of their problems. The group 1 of mothers with disturbed adaptation – 11 women (12%). Their emotional state was marked by increased level of anxiety and depression. The main adaptation problems were caused by affect and volition disturbance and expressed in underactive behaviour and inequality to organise the infant nursing regimen. The 2 group – 40 unadaptable women (44%). Their emotional state was marked by high level of anxiety and low level of depression. Adaptation problems were caused by extreme irritability, preventing mothers to meet the infant’s needs. The passive adaptation group 3–24 women (26%). In their emotional state they were more depressed than anxious. Adaptation problems were associated with emotional sadness and insufficient activity in nursing the baby. The 4 group – 17 women (18%) with supportive adaptation without expressed emotional (low level of anxiety and depression) and behavioural problems. Qualitative measurement of adaptation specifics in each of 4 mothers’ group showed to be determined by activity and adaptability components. Statistical data analysis revealed significant inverse correlation between adaptability and anxiety – 0624 (p<0,05) as well as between activity and depression– 0598 (p<0,05).
Conclusion Emotional state of women determines the specifics of adaptation to the role of a preterm infant’s mother. To increase the efficiency of adaptation, the psychological aid intended for stabilisation of mothers’ emotional state, decrease of anxiety or depression level is required.