Early weeks after premature birth as experienced by Latina adolescent mothers

To examine the early adaptation challenges and strengths of young mothers with preterm infants.

Naturalistic inquiry was used to obtain a subjective description of the postpartum experience of 12 adolescent Latina mothers who enrolled in an intervention study subsequent to the preterm birth of their first baby. Intervention visits with the mother and infant offered the opportunity to repeatedly observe them and discuss with the mother her views on this life transition.

Themes that emerged from discussions with the mothers were (a) devotion to the baby, (b) responsibilities, and (c) relationships. The adolescent mothers displayed devotion to their babies in their gentle touch and positive comments to and about their baby, their interest and adherence to an intervention program that promoted holding and provided information about infant development, and their advocacy with medical professionals and family members for their baby's well-being. Interdependence regarding the sharing of responsibilities to benefit the family was evident within families. Family relationships were supportive and vital to the adolescent mothers.

Latina adolescent mothers may benefit from recognizing their strengths and incorporating these strengths into the care plan for their infants. Warm, supportive relationships between the young mothers and the healthcare professional in this study resulted in the mothers considering new information addressing care of their infants, even if the information was different from their cultural mores.