A experiência materna no cotidiano de cuidados dos bebês de risco no domicílio

Abstract

This article proposes to present the maternal experience in the daily routine of caring for babies at-risk. Thematic oral histories were carried out with three mothers of babies attended at a rehabilitation service in the city of São Paulo, selected for convenience. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, textualized and transcreated and, after thematic analysis, two empirical categories were identified: (i) Going home: the first care between joy and fear; (ii) Care at home, the referrals and the personal construction of the network. The study concluded that the arrival of the baby in the post-discharge household was a moment of joy and fear and that the mothers assumed the role of almost exclusive caregiver, having to deal with the instability of the baby's health condition. In addition to routine care, mothers performed specialized procedures and outpatient follow-up of infants. The precarious supply of programs and policies to support post-discharge care required mothers to undertake the personal construction of a care network. Thus, the daily care of at-risk babies at home proved to be an exhausting experience for women, although perceived as pleasant and full of affection.