A1 year follow-up of premature babies and mothers regarding infant mother relationships

Research Project

Project/Area Number	10672240
Research Category	Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
Allocation Type	Single-year Grants
Section	一般
Research Field	Clinical nursing
Research Institution	OKAYAMA UNIVERSITY
Principal Investigator	OHI Nobuko Okayama University, Medical School, Associate Professor, 医学部, 助教授 (60155041)
Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha)	GODA Noriko Okayama Unuversity, Medical School, Associate Professor, 医学部, 助教授 (70225639) OTA Miwa Okayama Unuversity, Medical School, Associate Professor, 医学部, 助教授 (00213736) TADA Katuhiko Okayama University Hospital, Instructor, 医学部・附属病院, 講師 (90252973)
Project Period (FY)	1998 – 2000
Project Status	Completed (Fiscal Year 2000)
Budget Amount *help	¥700,000 (Direct Cost: ¥700,000) Fiscal Year 2000: ¥200,000 (Direct Cost: ¥200,000) Fiscal Year 1999: ¥500,000 (Direct Cost: ¥500,000)
Keywords	premature babies / infant-mother relationships / overall observation
Research Abstract	Aim : This study was carried out on mothers of premature babies, regarding infant-mother relationships, post delivery and discharge and after discharge of the premature baby. In addition, the causes leading to difficulties in infant-mother relationship in the house and the effect of the father's attitude towards the new infant on the infant-mother relationship, were also studied. Methods : Thirteen mothers of premature babies of birth weight 1.5 kg, were included in this study. Al the cases were followed up to 1 year after delivery ; at 1 week ; 1 month ; 3 months ; 6 months ; 9 months and 1 year. Areas researched included ; behavior, interest, feeling, fear, worry and knowledge about the babies situation by the mother and the mothers lifestyle. The investigation was done through interviews and observations during visits. Informed consent was obtained from all the mothers. Results : Eighty five percent of the expecting mothers were brought to the hospital in an ambulance and 85% underwent ceserian section. On first sight, 92% of mothers felt their babies were small and 70% experienced a sad feeling. The shock at first sight had an effect on the mother's subsequent visit and behavior towards the baby. About 92% of mothers missed their babies after being discharged with the baby still admitted. After the babies were discharged from infant care, almost all the mothers had a strong motherly feeling towards their babies. Holding babies and breast feeding them, brought a motherly sense of responsibility in the new mother. Most mothers had many fears regarding normal development of their babies and were highly stressed, specially where the husband was non-cooperative.