Domestic maternal experience with preterm newborn children

• Published in: Revista de salud pública (Bogotá, Colombia) Vol. 12; no. 3; pp. 356 - 367
• Main Authors: de Souza, Nilba Lima, Pinheiro-Fernandes, Ana C, Clara-Costa, Iris do Céu, Cruz-Enders, Bertha, de Carvalho, Jovanka Bittencourt Leite, da Silva, Maria de Lourdes Costa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Colombia Universidad Nacional de Colombia 01.06.2010; Instituto de Salud Publica, Facultad de Medicina - Universidad Nacional de Colombia
• Subjects: Adult; Anxiety; Bottle Feeding - psychology; Brazil; Breast Feeding - psychology; Female; Focus Groups; Hospitals, Maternity; Hospitals, Teaching; Humans; Infant Care - psychology; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Premature; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; Maternal Behavior - psychology; Mother-Child Relations; Mothers - psychology; PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH; Salud; Social Support; Young Adult; Brazil; comportamento materno; conduducta materna; Nacimiento prematuro; Nascimento prematuro; maternal behavior; Premature birth; mother-child relationship; relaciones madrehijo; relaçàµes mãe-filho
• ISSN: 0124-0064
• DOI: 10.1590/S0124-00642010000300002

Exploring maternal experience with premature newborn children in a domestic environment. The study was qualitative and used focus group interviews with 24 women who had had preterm deliveries in a public maternity hospital located in Northeast Brazil during June and October 2005. The mothers returned to the hospital facility at least 30 days after the newborn were discharged to share their experiences in caring for a premature infant at home. Interview data was analysed for content, four thematic nuclei being identified: hospital discharge, preparing the family for discharge, caring for a premature baby at home and life changes arising from the premature birth. The greatest difficulties reported by the mothers in caring for their premature children at home were related to feeding and feelings of insecurity and fear were expressed which showed the need for a support network for the families following discharge. The mothers care of premature infants at home represented changes for parents in everyday family life, work and social life, thus showing the need for a support network for them during the transition from hospital to home when considering premature children.