Interactions between mothers and their premature babies during the hospitalization period

Introduction: Several factors are related to the increased susceptibility of preterm infants to develop difficulties in their development, such as the effect of neurological immaturity, and the early separation of their parents. The World Health Organization raises the need to strengthen the role of parents and provide greater spaces for interaction. Objective: The present study seeks to know how mothers live the first interactions between them and their premature babies during hospitalization. Method: To meet the aim of this research, a qualitative methodology with a phenomenological approach was used. Data collection was done through in-depth interviews with 11 mothers, which were then analyzed through the Content Analysis technique. Results: The Mothers shared information about how they experienced their first contacts with their babies and the relevance they were giving to these interactions, and on the other hand, they emphasized how the context could limit these relationship spaces. Conclusion: In this study, it was possible to demonstrate the need for mothers to interact with their babies during hospitalization, which would have positive effects for both, highlighting the need for health teams to promote family-centered care.