Learning the baby: a maternal thinking and problem-solving process.
OBJECTIVE
To describe a maternal problem-solving process from new mothers' day-to-day experience of caring for and developing a relationship with their babies.


METHODS
Qualitative study using grounded theory approach.


METHODS
Mothers' homes (n = 23) and workplaces (n = 2).


METHODS
25 mothers of babies from 2 weeks to 7 months.


METHODS
Semi-structured interviews.


RESULTS
"Learning the Baby" was a major thinking process that emerged. Systematic thinking dominated mothers' problem-solving. Even after the babies were comforted, mothers were not certain their efforts alleviated the babies' problems, because they usually were not certain of the problem.


CONCLUSIONS
Mothers' thinking directs their caregiving actions. The findings were related to previous problem-solving and women's thinking perspectives. Nurses must use planned and unplanned encounters effectively to collaborate with and teach mothers about baby behavior and health care.
Sullivan
J M
JM
Medical Center of Louisiana, New Orleans, USA. jjsph@uno.edu
D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007224:Infant Care / Q000523:psychology*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007858:Learning; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011340:Problem Solving; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013850:Thinking