Strengthening bonds in difficult times
the impact of the NICU on the mother-baby bond
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.57167/Rev-SBPH.2025.v28.710Keywords:
Mothers, Attachment behavior, Intensive care units, NeonatologyAbstract
The mother-child bond plays a critical role in child development across multiple domains. However, situations involving the hospitalization of newborns in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) along with challenges and stressors related to the health of hospitalized newborns, can negatively impact the mother-baby bond. The purpose of this study is to examine how hospitalization and the care practices provided by professionals in the NICU affect the mother-baby relationship. This is a qualitative, descriptive study using semi-structured interviews as the data collection tool. The data collected were subjected to categorical content analysis in light of attachment theory. Eight mothers with infants admitted to the NICU participated, and the material analyzed led to the emergence of two thematic categories: 1) effects of hospitalization on the mother-baby bond; and 2) caregiving and the mother-baby relationship. Mothers expressed strong feelings of anxiety about returning home and fear of complications due to their child's health, as well as fear, guilt, and uncertainty. They emphasized family and spiritual supports as important coping resources. Regarding the care provided by hospital staff, mothers valued activities designed to strengthen their relationship with their children and the emotional and practical support provided by staff. The study concludes that despite the turbulent context of hospitalization shortly after birth, mothers maintained emotional bonds with their babies. The health care team played an important role in influencing the way they dealt with their children. This reinforces the need for interventions that promote closeness between mother and baby, even in highly complex environments such as the NICU.
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