Trauma della nascita pretermine e problematiche alimentari precoci

Preterm birth is a traumatic event both for the mother and for the child and nutrition represent a problematic area. The trauma of prematurity may lead to dysfunctional early mother-child interactions with a high risk of developing difficulties during breastfeeding and weaning. In this framework are presented the preliminary results of a longitudinal study aimed at exploring the transition to eating autonomy, field still unexplored in literature. The research involved 20 mother-child preterm dyads and 17 dyads at term assessed at 18 and 24 months. The child eating habits, maternal mental state, and the characteristics of mother-child eating interaction are explored. Results highlight preterm children were less breastfed and show less autonomy during the meal compared to full-term children.