A republican community for parents of premature babies has been established in Belarus, Yulia Rozhko, Head of the Premature Newborn Department at the Republican Scientific and Practical Centre "Mother and Child", told a BELTA correspondent.
A republican community for parents of premature babies has been established in Belarus, Yulia Rozhko, Head of the Premature Newborn Department at the Republican Scientific and Practical Centre "Mother and Child", told a BELTA correspondent.
The community will provide psychological assistance and informational support to mothers of premature babies through lectures, training sessions, educational seminars, and the distribution of brochures.
According to Yulia Rozhko, some mothers of premature infants are psychologically unprepared for the possibility of their child being ill, do not accept diagnoses, often feel helpless, lonely, and experience guilt when their child is seriously ill from birth. Many do not know where and how to seek medical observation. The first year of life is a particularly difficult period for parents of such infants. Therefore, mothers and fathers need special support, which the community will provide not only during the infant's first year but also beyond, especially if the child has a disability.
Qualified specialists, including neurologists, gastroenterologists, ophthalmologists, paediatricians, and psychologists, will provide assistance to parents and conduct meetings. Support groups have been created by mothers who have previously experienced similar situations. When parents feel supported, they are better able to cope with the consequences of having a premature baby.
A dedicated website, rano.by, has been launched. In the future, a forum will be available on the site where parents can communicate with doctors, psychologists, and early communication specialists. A list of events for parents of premature babies can be found in the relevant Viber group.
The Belarusian community has joined the European Foundation for the Care of Newborns. This is the first pan-European organisation and international network representing the interests of premature and newborn babies and their families. It unites parents, healthcare professionals, and other stakeholders from various walks of life with the common goal of improving the long-term health of premature and newborn babies by providing the most advanced methods of prevention, treatment, care, and comprehensive support. Initially, the organisation was European, but over time it has adopted an international scope of activity. The main principle of operation is that parents and specialists (doctors, nurses) work together as partners.
The initiative to create the Belarusian community came from mothers of infants who received specialised care at the Republican Scientific and Practical Centre "Mother and Child", as well as from the management of the premature newborn department of the Republican Scientific and Practical Centre. Currently, the community includes 180 mothers.