Transition to motherhood in women with an infant with special care needs

Mothers of infants with special care needs experience multiple transitions, as their babies are diagnosed with congenital anomalies and hospitalized during their transition to motherhood.

To examine the transition to motherhood in mothers of infants with special care needs, under the guidance of Meleis's Theory of Transition.

A descriptive qualitative approach was used. We followed a semi-structured form prepared in accordance with Meleis's Theory of Transition's concepts. The sample of the study consisted of eight mothers of infants with congenital anomalies in a neonatal intensive care unit of a university hospital in Turkey. Interview transcripts were analysed using the content analysis method.

After the interviews, transition to motherhood was obtained in three themes: facilitating and inhibiting, nursing therapeutic and response patterns. It was determined that mothers who can breastfeed their baby and touch them have a better adaptation to the transition process. Mothers' touching and breastfeeding their infants were accepted as turning points in their transition process.

It could be helpful for nurses to use Meleis's Theory of Transition in order understand the process of transition to motherhood for mothers of infants with special care needs.

This study highlights a necessity to prepare an orientation programme for families who will have a baby with a congenital anomaly. Such a programme, developed with multidisciplinary approaches, may help mothers having a baby with a congenital abnormally to adapt to their babies' situation and need for post-partum care.