Mothers‘feelings and expectations with premature child on mechanical ventilation

Abstract

The birth of a premature newborn imply in hospitalization and use of technological devices to his survival. The objective of this study was to investigate the mothers´ feelings during hospitalization of the child at Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and to know their expectations regarding the treatment of newborn in mechanical ventilation use. Qualitative study carried out in a public maternity in Fortaleza-CE-Brazil, from April to May of 2008. The subjects were eleven mothers whose children were in mechanical ventilation use, hospitalized in neonatal intensive care unit. A semi-structured interview with social demographics data and guiding questions was applied, from which emerged the categories: idealized baby, feelings versus hospitalization of the child. From act of living together with their children at NICU, the mothers revealed conflicts about the conditions that they face. In this daily life, besides, they believe in the assistance and survival of the premature child, showed positive feelings and expectations regarding his discharge. It concluded that the presence of mothers at hospitalization environment favor the accompaniment of the health evolution of their children, promoting the emotional link among mother-child binomial and familiar.

Descriptors: Nursing care; premature newborn; Oxygen Inhalation Therapy; Humanization of Assistance; Interpersonal Relations.