The maternal experience of kangaroo holding.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the maternal experience of kangaroo holding premature infants in the neonatal intensive care unit.


METHODS
Qualitative, naturalistic inquiry design using open-ended, transcribed audiotaped face-to-face interviews.


METHODS
Level III 70-bed tertiary care neonatal intensive care unit in Delaware.


METHODS
Eighteen mothers who kangaroo held their premature infants were interviewed over a 5-month period of time.


METHODS
Mothers were interviewed following a 60-minute kangaroo holding session in the neonatal intensive care unit. Additionally, unobtrusive detailed observation of each mother's kangaroo holding experience was recorded and analyzed.


METHODS
Maternal behaviors and interactions and related nursing and environmental interactions.


RESULTS
Triangulation of demographic data, observation data, and themes of the interviews supports the use of kangaroo holding as a method to improve maternal confidence in caring for premature infants. Mothers reported feelings of "being needed" and "feeling comfortable" with the holding experience regardless of the infant's physical health status.


CONCLUSIONS
Results identify maternal experiences of and responses to kangaroo holding in the intensive care environment, leading to the increased understanding of the multifaceted advantages of kangaroo holding on maternal attachment behaviors.
Johnson
Amy Nagorski
AN
School of Nursing at University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA. ajohnson@udel.edu
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003691:Delaware; D005260:Female; D006272:Health Facility Environment; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007224:Infant Care / Q000523:psychology*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000523:psychology; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal / Q000523:psychology*; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D017283:Neonatal Nursing; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D036301:Qualitative Research; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires