Maternal care in the preterm child’s family context: A comprehensive look towards the sibling

Abstract

Objective: To analyze maternal care for siblings of preterm babies hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit. Method: Qualitative research using symbolic interactionism as a theoreti-cal reference and narrative research as a methodological reference. Ten mothers were surveyed through semi-structured interviews. Results: Three thematic units emerged from the analysis of data: “social support in the sharing of child care”; “promotion of adaptation to the arrival of a sibling” and “maternal feelings and coping”. Final considerations: Care for the premature child’s sibling is developed under mothers’ physical distance from him/her, justified by the need to re-main close to the premature child due to risks and fragility related to the condition.