Taking care of my baby: mexican-american mothers in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Publisher: Informa Healthcare Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 7702326 Publication Model: Print Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1521-043X (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 01460862 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Issues Compr Pediatr Nurs

Publication: London : Informa Healthcare
Original Publication: New York [etc.] McGraw-Hill.

Attitude to Health* ; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal*; Maternal Behavior/*ethnology ; Mexican Americans/*psychology ; Mothers/*psychology; Adult ; Cultural Competency ; Female ; Humans ; Infant Care/psychology ; Infant, Newborn ; Professional-Family Relations ; Young Adult

Objectives: The admission of an infant to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) can produce significant stress for mothers and may contribute to a difficult transition following discharge. Past research has primarily focused on Caucasian women. Mexican-Americans are the fastest growing ethnic population in the U.S. with the highest fertility rate; therefore, the purpose of this grounded theory study was to gain a better understanding of the NICU experience for Mexican-American mothers.
Methods: Fifteen women were recruited and data were collected through semi-structured interviews.
Results: A theoretical model, taking care of my baby, was developed. The mothers' experiences began with the unexpected event of having an infant admitted to the NICU and played out in a context that fluctuated between being supportive (making meaningful connections) or inhibitive (struggling to mother). The women developed strategies to help them take care of their babies during the NICU stay: balancing responsibilities, leaving part of me with my baby, and watching over. The process concluded in one of two ways: bringing my baby home or losing my baby.
Conclusion: These findings offer insight for neonatal nurses who provide care for Mexican-American NICU mothers and may help inform their practice. Further research is needed with this growing population to ensure supportive nursing care and influence positive outcomes.

Date Created: 20121113 Date Completed: 20131119 Latest Revision: 20140731

20221213

10.3109/01460862.2012.709435

23140412