Lasting Effects of Prematurity
Over the past year, I think I’ve written and read countless articles and blog posts about the long term health consequences of prematurity. Most of you reading this probably know what they are (developmental delays, chronic lung disease, sensory issues, learning disabilites, growth problems, etc), so today, I decided to think about the issue from another angle.
When a baby is born prematurely, they aren’t the only ones who feel the longterm affects of this dramatic event. Their parents and family members can also face longterm consequences. Among these, the most common are probably feelings of guilt and failure, followed by an unfortunately high rate of post traumatic stress disorder and depression found among mothers of premature infants hospitalized in intensive care.
Many mothers carry feelings of guilt and responsibility over their baby’s early arrival, privately pondering what they did or didn’t do that caused their baby to be born too soon. Despite the fact that there is usually nothing the mother could have done to prevent or change the situation, these feelings can linger for long periods of time, especially if their baby has serious longterm complications.
Then, the often traumatic experiences of birth and the NICU stay cause many mothers (and fathers) to experience symptoms of depression or post traumatic stress disorder. I might not have believed this, if I hadn’t experienced intense feelings of anxiety myself, when I entered the hospital for a meeting, months after my daughter had been discharged from the NICU.
While the main goal in the NICU is to provide the best possible medical care for the baby, attention also needs to be paid to the mental health and wellbeing of parents and siblings. Our NICU didn’t have a support group, and support services were never recommeded or offered. Looking back, and know how I feel today, that seems painfully short sighted.
What do you think? Did your NICU do anything to help family members cope? Have you experienced feelings of guilt, anxiety or depression since your baby was in the NICU? Share your stories here.
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