Interviewing mothers of high-risk infants. What are their support needs.

The survival of newborns with life-threatening illness has dramatically increased over the past 20 years. Improved obstetrical care, earlier maternal and infant transfer, advanced biomedical technology and improved neonatal intensive care have resulted in decreased mortality and morbidity in this high-risk group. But the need for comprehensive care of high-risk infants extends well beyond their stay in neonatal intensive care units. Infants requiring intensive care at birth are at risk for readmission to hospital and developmental or physical impairment during the early years of life. In addition, the stress of infant illness and caring for an infant with long-term medical or developmental needs can permanently change the family. Thus, the improved survival rate of high-risk newborns has rapidly expanded the support required to meet the complex, multiple and long-term needs of these infants and their families during and after hospitalization.