Consequences of prematurity in the establishment of the affective bond between teenage mothers and newborns

Abstract

Objective: to grasp under the maternal perception the consequences of prematurity in the establishment of the affectivebond between adolescent mothers/premature babies. Methods: descriptive exploratory study, of qualitative nature, withthe participation of ten teenage mothers whose newborn preterm infants had been hospitalized in neonatal care units.Subjects were interviewed and one obtained identification data and used issues related to the affective bond betweenmothers and children. Results: mothers have different perceptions about their children’s suffering and consider prematuritya serious problem that hinders the affective bond between mothers/babies. Conclusion: the nursing team must rethinktheir practices, seeking opportunities for scientific and emotional growth, aiming to promote the mother’s stay in the unit,the establishment of the link between teenage mothers/babies and encouraging mothers to have active participation in therecovery of their children.