Abstract
Abstract Objective: to identify feelings, experiences and expectations of the mothers during the first visit to the child hospitalized in a Neonatal Intermediate Care Unit of a teaching hospital in the interior of the state of Minas Gerais. Method: qualitative research conducted between November 2016 and April 2017, with 24 mothers during a first visit to their children in the intermediate care unit. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, transcribed and submitted to Content Analysis. Results: from the analysis emerged three thematic categories: feelings that precede the first visit, the experience of the first visit, feelings experienced during the first visit. Conclusion and implications for practice: the participants demonstrated that the first visit to their children can bring positive feelings and negative experiences. Strategies to minimize fears and clarify doubts favor the realization of motherhood.
Highlights
The first visit of the mother to the Newborn (NB) hospitalized in a neonatal unit is considered a frustrating and shocking experience, regarding the expectation of taking care of a healthy child
This study aimed to identify feelings, experiences and expectations of the mothers during their first visit to the children hospitalized in a Neonatal Intermediate Care Unit (NICU)
The data collection was performed from November 2016 to April 2017, through semi-structured interviews, which were recorded in audio and later transcribed in full and certified in two moments by two researchers to guarantee the reliability of the transcription and after stored in an electronic database for analysis.The interviews were divided into two parts: the first included socio-demographic data: age, marital status, type of delivery, number of children, schooling and prenatal care; the second, the following guiding question: How was your experience visiting your child for the first time at the NICU? Would you like to report anything else about this experience? The interviews had an average duration of 15 minutes
Summary
The first visit of the mother to the Newborn (NB) hospitalized in a neonatal unit is considered a frustrating and shocking experience, regarding the expectation of taking care of a healthy child. The reality imposed by the neonate with health problems that requires hospitalization and care, makes the mother feel vulnerable, guilty, insecure and scared.[1 ,2]. Spending a lot of time in the hospital or on the way between the house and the hospital becomes a stressful routine. Those who have other children need to leave them under the care of family members, another source of concern. Impaired parental behaviors can affect the baby's growth and development.[3]
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