THE MOTHER WHEN CARING FOR HER NEWBORN BABY AT THE NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT: POSSIBILITIES AND CHALLENGES

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a qualitative study aimed to understand the limits and possibilities of maternal care to the newborn in the Intensive Neonatal Therapy Unit (NICU). The study was held at a philanthropic hospital in Belo Horizonte, M.G, and had 11 mothers of newborns hospitalized at the NICU and 11 health professionals who take care of these newborns as participants. For data collection, interviews and participant observation were used. Data analysis was made through Discourse Analysis. The data evidences the forms of participation of the mothers in the care given to their children and their relationships and tensions with the professionals in the development of the care. It was demonstrated that the attitude of the mother towards the child determines her role in the care of this child and redefines her possibilities of action inside the NICU in a continuous and dynamic process. It was concluded that the participation of the mother in the care process at the NICU is not explored in its potentiality, pointing out the need to amplify the studies in order to solidify the practices already existent and build up new alternatives for the participation of the mothers.