Domestic maternal experience with preterm newborn children

Objective Exploring maternal experience with premature newborn children in a domestic environment.

Methods 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.

Results 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.

Conclusions 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.

Objective Exploring maternal experience with premature newborn children in a domestic environment.

Methods 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.

Results 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.

Conclusions 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.

Objetivo Explorar as vivências maternas no cuidar de um recém-nascido prematuro em casa e analisar as dificuldades na assistência materno-infantil, após a alta hospitalar dos prematuros. Métodos Estudo descritivo de natureza qualitativa com utilização do grupo focal com 24 mulheres que tiveram partos pré-termos em uma Maternidade escola, referência estadual para gestação de alto risco no nordeste brasileiro, no período junho a outubro de 2005. As mulheres retornaram ao serviço no período mínimo de 30 dias após a alta do neonato para relatar suas experiências de como cuidavam do recém-nascido prematuro em casa. Resultados Os conteúdos das entrevistas foram divididos em quatro núcleos temáticos: A alta hospitalar; o preparo da família para a alta; cuidando de um bebê prematuro no domicílio materno e, mudanças na vida impostas pelo nascimento prematuro. As maiores dificuldades apresentados pelas mães no cuidado com o filho prematuro em casa dizem respeito à alimentação e resultaram das falhas da equipe de saúde no preparo dessas famílias para os cuidados domiciliares com o prematuro. Surgiram ainda sentimentos de insegurança e medo, revelando a necessidade de uma rede de apoio com seguimento ambulatorial e de pronto atendimento para oferecer suporte às famílias de bebês prematuros após a alta. Conclusões No cuidado materno com o filho prematuro no domicílio predominaram sentimentos negativos que impuseram mudanças no cotidiano familiar, no trabalho e na própria vida social, revelando a necessidade de apoio aos pais na transição da vida hospitalar para domiciliar em situação de prematuridade.