Paul D A, Epps S, Leef K H, Stefano J L
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Christiana Care Health Services, Newark, DE, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
J Perinatol. 2001 Oct-Nov;21(7):431-7. doi: 10.1038/sj.jp.7210559.
Evaluate the usefulness of prenatal consultation with a neonatologist before preterm birth.
A questionnaire was administered to mothers 1 week before home discharge of their preterm infant in a single regional level III neonatal intensive care unit.
Sixty-seven mothers completed the questionnaire; 84% indicated the consult was useful and 71% were comforted by the consult. However, mothers < 30 weeks' gestation were less likely to be comforted after the consult compared to those > or = 30 weeks. Most frequently, mothers indicated that they were provided with too little detail about retinopathy of prematurity and intraventricular hemorrhage.
Most mothers delivering a preterm infant describe the prenatal consultation with a neonatologist as useful. The majority of mothers are comforted by the information presented.
