As experiências de mães de prematuros internados em uma unidade de terapia intensiva neonatal acerca do aleitamento materno no puerpério imediato

Abstract

Prematurity has an impact on the lives of families, modifying their routines and giving rise to feelings that generate fear, anguish and anxiety due to the uncertainty of survival. The objective of this research is to know the experiences of mothers of premature infants admitted to a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) about breastfeeding in the immediate puerperium. This is a study with a qualitative, field, descriptive approach. The study scenario was the NICU of a university hospital in southern Brazil, where premature children born in this institution and in the region are admitted. The participants were mothers of children born prematurely admitted to the unit. Data collection took place through semi-structured interviews, via telephone contact. This technique was necessary to ensure biosafety measures in the face of the pandemic of the new coronavirus (SARS-COV-2). Subsequently, the data were transcribed and submitted to analysis using Minayo's operative proposal. From the analysis of the data, two categories emerged: The construction of the maternal identity, and the breastfeeding process for the mothers of the NICU. It was possible to observe that there was a weakening of the bond between mother and child due to admission to the NICU, and the maternal identity is built on the mother's empowerment in caring for her child on a daily basis, as it is essential that she recognizes herself as a mother. Regarding breastfeeding even with the reported difficulties, they reported understanding the benefits that BF has for the baby and for strengthening the bond between them.