THE BIRTH AND SUBSEQUENT HOSPITALIZATION OF VERY-LOW-BIRTH-WEIGHT PREMATURE-INFANTS - THE PARENTS MEMORIES 1 YEAR LATER - STUDY OF 94 INFANTS

The birth and subsequent hospitalization of very low birth weight prem ature infants can be a psychological shock for parents which may distu rb further relationships between infant and parents. The parents' memo ries from the birth period of 94 very low birthweight premature infant s (< 32 weeks of gestational age) have been analyzed by way of an inte rview. This study has shown the painful aspect of the birth and of the parents' first meeting with the infant. Howewer, despite these first difficulties, the relationship normally improves with time.