Puerpério imediato: desvendando o significado da maternidade.

Abstract

The meaning of maternity must be deepened among parents. The goal of this study is to know the meanings of maternity in face of the puerperal mothers' needs in rooming-in of a general hospital in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. This research followed the qualitative paradigm of exploratory descriptive-like features. The data was collected from a sample composed of 15 women ranging from 24 to 48 hours of puerperium. Three categories emerged through content analysis: the meaning of being a mother difficulties of immediate puerperium and necessities of immediate puerperium. According to the results, puerperal mothers define maternity as a dream coming true allied to the responsibility and commitment with the newest living being fragile and dependant on their care. We conclude that maternity for these puerperal mothers is a unique, a moment with feelings of insecurity towards self-care and taking care of the newborns.