Phenomenological Study of Women’s Experiences of Neonatal Transport After Childbirth in Korea

Abstract

ObjectiveTo explore the experiences of women in Korea who were separated from their newborns when they were transported to neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) to receive treatment. DesignPhenomenological. SettingA university hospital with approximately 600 beds in Seoul, Korea. ParticipantsWomen who experienced neonatal transport after childbirth from March to May 2021 (N = 9). MethodsWe collected data through individual in-depth interviews and analyzed them using Colaizzi’s procedure. ResultsWe extracted four overarching themes that represented the experiences of participants: Outsider Left Alone, Enduring in a Different World, The Lost Starting Line, and Running Together. ConclusionOur findings captured the unique experiences of women whose newborns were transported from the hospitals where they were born to NICUs at other hospitals to receive treatment. It is necessary to develop and apply tailored nursing interventions, such as assessment and support for postpartum blues or depression, to ensure that postnatal care and healthy maternal transition are not hindered.