Feelings and expectations of mothers of preterm babies at discharge

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feelings and expectations of mothers of preterm babies at discharge. METHODS: This descriptive study used Bardin's framework to collect data among 11 mothers of preterm babies from a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Data were collected through interviews from December 2004 to January 2005. RESULTS: Four categories emerged: the moment of the discharge; mothers' knowledge and questions; mothers' preparation and orientation for discharge; and, mothers' desired orientation. CONCLUSION: Although mothers' experienced excitement and happiness at discharge, many reported being anxious and insecure on how to take care of their preterm babies.

Vivências de mães sobre a hospitalização do filho prematuro

“…Estudos corroboram esta estratégia ao revelarem que as mães se sentem satisfeitas e confiantes estando presentes na unidade e podendo observar os cuidados prestados ao filho pelos profissionais de saúde. 11 Assim, ressalta-se que a comunicação entre a equipe de saúde e a família é um recurso essencial no processo de adaptação à hospitalização do RN. Fortalecer e estimular o vínculo afetivo são estratégias favorecidas pela comunicação horizontal entre os segmentos mencionados, através da qual se estabelece uma interação efetiva com a família.…”

Avaliação de famílias de bebês nascidos com muito baixo peso durante o cuidado domiciliar

“…At the same time as the parents feel happy and relieved after the infant's discharge, they also feel anxious and insecure 12 about the new care phase that is starting, distant from the hospital team. In the phase they are entering, adaptations and readjustments of the existing family bonds and subsystems are needed, as well as of the roles each family member assumed, with a view to furthering attendance to the infant's needs and his/ her inclusion in the family context.…”

Educação em saúde e a família do bebê prematuro: uma revisão integrativa

“…The results indicated that mothers reported less stress, depression and anxiety and more positive interactions occurred in the neonatal unit, in addition to the reduction in length of hospital stay of the newborn by almost four days (11) . A study that interviewed mothers of premature infants in a neonatal intensive care unit showed that mothers felt satisfied to be present in the unit, even when just observing the execution of the procedures, because such experience gave them new notions of the care strategy (13) . With the inclusion of mothers in care, it appeared that some nursing professionals perceived such participation as an aid in the reduction of work overload (10) .…”

“…Moreover, the parents wanted to receive useful information about their child and data reporting on the condition of his health at this time (13) . However, one study stressed, by talking to the professionals interviewed, that during hospital discharge, mothers expressed many emotions and that such emotional burden hindered concentration for learning at that moment (14,16) .…”

“…The information dispensed to families, at the time of discharge, related to feeding, hygiene, bathing, elimination, airway secretion, the way to pick up the baby, affective bonding and signs and symptoms of risk. Families were also orientated about returns to the outpatient clinic, use of vitamins, medication administration, vaccination schedule, growth and development, complications and sequelae (13,16) . For this to occur, the orientation prepared for hospital discharge should consider the cultural level of each family, respecting the characteristics and individual needs (14) .…”