Child Health Nurs Res.  2018 Oct;24(4):407-419. 10.4094/chnr.2018.24.4.407.

A Mother's Experience of Hospitalization of Her Newborn in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

• Choi E
• Lee Y

• KMID: 2435304
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4094/chnr.2018.24.4.407

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the meaning and essence of a mother's experience of hospitalization of her newborn in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
METHODS
This study employed a qualitative research design. An interview was conducted with a mother whose newborn was hospitalized in the NICU, and the data were analyzed using Giorgi's phenomenological method.
RESULTS
Five main themes and 19 formulated meanings were indentified. The 5 themes were "˜drowning in pain', "˜just look outside the glass door', "˜being a pillar', "˜a deepening attachment', and "˜prepare for nurturing with hope'.
CONCLUSION
The results of this study provided an in-depth understanding of the experience of a mother with a newborn in the NICU. These results can be used in the development of a nursing intervention program that provides psychological and emotional support to the mother and family.

Keyword

Neonatal intensive care units; Newborn; Mother; Hospitalization

MeSH Terms

Glass
Hospitalization*
Humans
Infant, Newborn*
Intensive Care Units, Neonatal
Intensive Care, Neonatal*
Methods
Mothers
Nursing
Qualitative Research