Maternal attitudes to preterm birth

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Abstract
Thirty-one mothers of infants who were preterm (less than 37 completed weeks gestation) and who attended the developmental clinic at 1 year of age were assessed in regard to their attitude towards their infant at 1 year of age. Only mothers who were married at the time of the baby's birth and at the time of the baby's attendance for follow-up were included. Mothers of infants who had a physical or mental handicap or who had a multiple pregnancy were also excluded. Thirty mothers of infants who were delivered at term were also interviewed as controls. Using a semi-structured interview schedule and a standardised rating scale, no significant differences were found between the 2 groups with regard to their ease of early attachment or their later attitudes and adjustment. Thus it appears that the healthy preterm infant does not suffer any disadvantage in terms of maternal attitudes towards him as compared with the healthy infant born at term.