Parents of premature babies: urgent call for more support!

Parents of premature babies: urgent call for more support!

The urgency of better support for parents of premature babies in Austria is increasingly becoming the focus of the political discussion. Diakonie social expert Martin Schenk calls for a "coalition for child health" in the run-up to the government negotiations. In a comprehensive appeal, he emphasizes that the existing regulations on childcare allowance and maternity leave must be adapted urgently in order to meet the special needs of parents whose children are born before the 37th week of pregnancy. In 2023, around 5,300 premature babies in Austria saw the light of day, which means an early -born rate of around seven percent. These parents often face enormous challenges because they spend up to four months or more in the hospital, while families of ripe born children can usually devote their offspring at home for 14 months, such as ots.at reported.

Challenges and support for premature parents

The burden on parents of premature babies is immense because they are often faced with emotional and physical exertion. Her children often have to stay in the hospital for many months, with the scope of the situation presenting many relatives with new challenges. Around 60,000 premature babies are born in Germany every year. Empathic support from the environment is essential to accompany the parents through this difficult time. The people around them should behave sensitively and do without inappropriate congratulations or questions. Instead of phrases, direct offers are often more helpful to help. "I want to support you. What can I do for you?" Is a question that the parents appealed to much more in their emergency situation, how naturkindmagazin.de describes.

The intensive medical care of the premature babies also means that parents often have to support very differently than with ripe -born children. The emotional burden caused by the intensive care of your babies requires compassion and patience from friends and family. An open ear and practical help in everyday life can help share the load while the family focuses on the recovery of their child. The recognition of these special needs is not only a social responsibility, but also a step towards more sustainable support for the parents of premature babies.