The voice of the woman-mother of a premature baby in the neonatal unit: a phenomenological approach

Abstract

Problem: Motherhood is an important moment for women, and being a mother of a premature infant admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) requires greater adaptation to this existential moment. Aim: To understand the experiences of women-mothers during the hospitalization of the child in the NICU. Method: This is a qualitative study based on Heideggerian phenomenology, held in a public NICU. Results: The experience of women-mothers allowed the creation of four units of meaning: fear of the environment and initially touching the child; being received in the unit; the chronological period, and; improved monitoring of the baby. Discussion: Women-mothers, in the facticity of being thrown into the world of NICU, experience care, take part in conversations, fear for their child's life, and remain tethered to their occupations and daily tasks. Conclusion: The reception, careful listening and understanding of the uniqueness of women-mothers represent a fundamental way of being in the NICU, allowing women to become mothers of their babies.