Follow-up care

of the expected perfect baby. Research suggests that nursing interventions such as teaching parents about health concerns, caregiving activities and behavioral characteristics of preterm infants, are important in helping parents both in the hospital and after discharge. Research has also documented that home visits by health professionals as well as appointments at child health clinics promote the health of mothers and babies and improve parental ability to cope with infant care. However, little is known about parenting preterm babies in Russia. There has been no research done regarding parental experiences in the NICU and after discharge. Research was needed to explore these experiences in Russian settings and to see if demographic, cultural, and healthcare system differences affect maternal responses to having a premature infant. Standard care is to perform the first home visit to the newborn baby in the three days after discharge from a maternity or paediatric hospital. Subsequently during the first month, home visits to a prematurely born infant are made twice per week by a child health visiting nurse (called a ‘patronage nurse’ in Russia) and by a paediatrician from a local child health clinic (total 8-10 visits). It was important to evaluate existing services and document whether or not a change is necessary in Russian guidelines and protocols. The incidence of preterm and low birthweight birth is high and rising in many countries. The premature survival rates have increased tremendously with technological advances, but when compared with term births, prematurity and low birthweight are among the most important predictors of infant morbidity and mortality. Following hospital discharge, parents often have to deal with their infants’ ongoing medical problems, respiratory complications, failure to thrive, feeding problems, and delayed development or other general health problems. Mothers of preterm babies are at greater risk of psychological distress, depression, poor adjustment, and anxiety during the hospitalisation and after discharge. Problems with parenting a preterm infant before or after discharge can lead to depression, marital discord, potential loss of employment, and deep psychological and financial burdens. Premature babies often require follow-up, closer surveillance and additional care after hospital discharge, that place added stress on the family and their resources. Since 1980, numerous studies in the US, the UK, Canada and other countries have examined parental experiences in the NICU and after discharge. Recurring themes in these studies have underlined parental stress, the need for information and parental teaching, the requirement for adequate social and professional support, and the presence of grief related to the loss Follow-up care of premature babies in Russia: evaluating parental experiences and associated services