A relação entre a mãe adolescente e o bebê pré-termo: sentimentos desvelados

Abstract

The aim of this qualitative study was to understand how the relationship between adolescent mothers and prematurely born babies develops by knowing the feelings of the mothers relative to their babies. Twenty adolescent mothers of premature babies were investigated at the Neonatal Intensive Care Units of three public hospitals, in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil, from August to October, 2004. Based on the thematic analysis of information obtained during interviews and observation, two categories were found: motherhood experience and relationship with the baby. Mothers feel sorry for their babies’ pain and suffering, and feel responsible for everything that happens to them, changing their own lifestyles to be with their babies.