MATERNAL EMOTIONAL-REACTIONS TO THE PREMATURE-INFANT IN THE CONTEXT OF THE FAMILY

This study examined maternal emotional reactions to the birth and early development of premature infants and whether such reactions are influenced by specific social support variables. Extensive clinical notes on 22 mothers were coded at 7 points throughout the first 14 months of the premature infant's life. Mothers were rated on 13 general psychological characteristics common to "maternal mourning reactions" of mothers of handicapped and at-risk children. Mothers of premature infants experienced shorter adverse reactions than previously reported for mothers of other types of disabled children; in addition, the proposed three-stage model of maternal mourning (i.e., shock; emotional disorganization; emotional organization) did not appear to characterize this sample. Mothers with supportive spouses and close friends experienced less severe emotional reactions, as did mothers whose husbands were looking forward to becoming fathers. The clinical implications of these findings are discussed.