THE EXPERIENCE IN A NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT: MOTHERS' POINT OF VIEW

Objective: to explore the experience preterm infants' mothers of during hospitalization in a neonatal intensive care unit. Methods: a descriptive, exploratory study with a qualitative approach. Data were collected through a semi-structured interview, with puerperae whose children were hospitalized at a neonatal intensive care unit of a hospital in Southern Brazil. Data were analyzed by means of operative analysis. Results: the themes that emerged from the analysis were: mothers experience of hospitalized preterm children and mothers' perceptions regarding the care of preterm children in the intensive care unit. Mothers understand the need for hospitalization, however they are concerned, feel in difficulties and shock, fear and misinformation. Conclusion: despite the need for hospitalization and the emotional fragility caused by the separation of mother from her infant, there was no impairment in the development of the bonding.