Sensitive accompaniment: Help for affected families in St. Josef Hospital

Sensitive accompaniment: Help for affected families in St. Josef Hospital

St. Josef Krankenhaus Wien, 1060 Wien, Österreich - The challenges with which parents are faced with whose children suffer from life -limiting diseases are immense. A comprehensive range of support was established five years ago in St. Josef Hospital Vienna, which is supported by seriously ill newborns and their families throughout pregnancy and after birth. This interdisciplinary team, which consists of pediatricians, gynecologists, psychologists and midwives, not only offers medical, but also psychological and emotional support. "It is important to us that we accompany the parents in their decision and help them create positive memories, even in this difficult time," says neonatologist Andrea Schiller. Parents can create an individual birth and palliative plan, which puts their wishes and needs in the foreground, such as OTS

comprehensive care for families

Special care for newborns and their relatives is the heart of the program in the St. Josef Hospital. After birth, not only medical measures are taken to ensure freedom of pain and quality of life, but also deliver emotional support in the mourning process. "The memories that families create with their babies are of central importance," explains Schiller. A professional photographer is even hired to capture valuable moments. The accompaniment does not end with birth: a domestic palliative care offer is provided, while the mothers continue to receive support from midwives.

In a related topic, current research results illuminate the importance of mental health of mothers during the peripartal period. About 10–15 % of mothers are affected by peripartal depression, which can have serious consequences for the development of children. Comprehensive care therefore requires close cooperation between gynecologists, psychiatrists and midwives in order to recognize and treat signs of mental illnesses at an early stage. Studies show that a sensible assessment of psychosocial risks in pregnant women is essential in order to minimize consequential damage and prevent them preventively, such as Springer