Samen zorgen voor de allerkleinsten en hun ouders

We describe the history and the collaborative and multidisciplinary care following discharge from hospital of a preterm baby girl (gestational age 26 weeks + 3 days, birth weight 820 grams). The clinical period was uneventful. Following discharge several problems were encountered, namely regarding feeding, motor development and parent-child interaction, and the parents experienced psychological problems. Because of the collaborative care system in place for preterm infants in our area, consisting of youth healthcare (nurse and physician), hospital paediatric care (neonatal nurse and paediatrician-neonatologist) and paramedical care (child physiotherapist, speech therapist and dietician) we were able to solve those issues without extra hospital visits. The youth healthcare nurse played a central role in implementing the medical and paramedical advice during home visits, and helped the parents to strengthen their self-confidence. Collaborative care between youth healthcare, paediatric medical care and paramedic care is workable and can be mutually reinforcing in providing care for preterm infants and their parents.

Conflict of interest and financial support: none declared.