title: The development of a mother's internal working model of feeding.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the study was to describe changes in a mother's early internal working model of infant feeding.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this qualitative study, 12 maternal responses to the semi-structured internal working model interview were audio-recorded, once in the neonatal intensive care unit after infants began oral feeding and once 2 weeks post-discharge. Interviews were analyzed using directed content analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A change between mothers' early and later nipple feeding experiences was identified.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nurses and other clinicians can help mothers understand the infant's behaviors and focus on the infant's nutritional intake while simultaneously developing a relationship with the infant.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA. lfbrown2@vcu.edu
authors.forename: Lisa F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Junyanee
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Griffin
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Reyna
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lewis
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000523:psychology*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D018730:Infant Behavior / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D008297:Male; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors