Breastfeeding a hospitalized newborn: difficulties of mothers with children in neonatal intensive and intermediate care units

Abstract

Breastfeeding is the wisest natural strategy of link, affection, protection and nutrition for the child. This study aimed to investigate the difficulties of mothers in the process of breastfeeding children in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and the Intermediate Medical Care Unit (IMCU). The research is exploratory-descriptive, with a qualitative approach, conducted at the Mother's House, a support house of a reference hospital in Sobral- CE. Data was collected from a semi-structured interview with 12 mothers. The focal group technique was also used for completion of the information. From the interpretation and analysis of the information reported, puerperal difficulties were organized into four categories: mother-child separation; conditions of newborn hospitalized in NICU and IMCU; hospitalization as the generator of anxiety, and milking expression as an exhaustive process. The hospitalization of a newborn child is an event that involves emotional, socioeconomic and cultural factors and that may hinder the process of breastfeeding. It was possible to perceive this process as a difficult experience that requires effort and persistence to overcome, in addition to technical difficulties, feelings of fear and anxiety generated by the situation. Thus, the nursing professional must be present at all times, offering practical and emotional help, supporting the mother to acquire self-confidence in her ability to breastfeed.