Resolving Mother's Grief After Preterm Birth Key To Premature Infant's Long-Term Well Being

Resolving Mother's Grief After Preterm Birth Key To Premature Infant's Long-Term Well Being

Having a baby prematurely can be traumatic experience for parents and is typically characterized by feelings of loss and grief that can persist for months after a baby is discharged from the hospital.

New research by the University of Michigan Health System and the University of Wisconsin shows that the degree to which a mother can resolve these feelings is thought to affect attachment between the mother and infant. That attachment has long-term implications for the infant's social and emotional development.

The findings of this study appear in this week's online edition of the journal Pediatrics...