Dear researchers,
I am currently writing my FMS final dissertation in the field of health and am looking at the emotional strain experienced by parents of premature babies. Is caring for a preterm newborn different from caring for a full-term baby?
The emotional strain on the mother caused by these births – which are sometimes traumatic and sometimes unexpectedly rapid – is certainly greater. Is it possible that the hormones released during a labour lasting several hours are missing? Is the so-called “maternal instinct” perhaps not as strongly developed?
I have now come across a programme called COPE, which is offered at the Inselspital in Bern. This programme supports parents in interacting with their premature babies. I’m now interested in hearing feedback from parents who have completed the programme. To what extent has COPE helped them and their children? I’m also interested to know whether there are any plans to further develop or expand the COPE programme – in Bern or elsewhere.
Could you help me with this?
Best regards, Mayra
Parental intuition develops
Thank you very much for your question! Parents of premature babies often face major challenges, as the birth is early and usually unexpected. Many feel inadequately prepared and experience a mixture of uncertainty and fear for their child’s wellbeing. Added to this is a feeling of helplessness, as they are often unable to care for their child as they would like. These factors can make it difficult to develop a natural parental intuition. However, this “instinct” is by no means “switched off” – it develops gradually.
Oxytocin through skin-to-skin contact
Studies show that the bonding hormone oxytocin, which is released during childbirth, is often secreted in lower quantities in mothers of premature babies. Oxytocin plays a central role in the bonding process and is promoted by physical closeness and skin-to-skin contact. This is where ‘kangaroo care’ (skin-to-skin contact) plays an important role: direct skin-to-skin contact between parents and their child stimulates increased release of the bonding hormone even after birth, which supports the development of natural intuition and the bonding process.
COPE helps
Specialised programmes such as COPE (Creating Opportunities for Parent Empowerment) can provide targeted support for parents during the early stages. The COPE programme is an educational programme for parents that covers aspects such as parental involvement in their child’s care and opportunities for positive interactions with the infant. Studies show that parents who have taken part in the COPE programme are less stressed and anxious, and experience depressive symptoms less frequently. This has a positive effect on how they interact with their child and on the child’s development. To find out whether there are plans to further develop COPE, you can contact Inselspital Bern directly. The following review provides a summary of the effects of early interventions:
Puthussery, S., Chutiyami, M., Tseng, PC. et al. Effectiveness of early intervention programmes for parents of preterm infants: a meta-review of systematic reviews. BMC Pediatrics, 18, 223 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-018-1205-9