Mother's Lived Experience During Repair of Long-Gap Esophageal Atresia: A Phenomenological Inquiry

Infants born with long-gap esophageal atresia (LGEA) pose unique physiologic risks in the newborn period. Anatomic and physiologic anomalies require an extended hospitalization with procedural analgesia and sedation that impact the mother's experience of birth, maternal response, and nurturing of her infant.

The aim of this study was to understand the meaning of experiences that mothers of infants born with LGEA encounter in the neonatal intensive care unit while their infant undergoes esophageal repair.

A hermeneutical phenomenological design was used to guide this inquiry. Three mothers were interviewed on 3 separate occasions. The conversations were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. The findings were analyzed using fundamental existential lifeworld themes.

The essence that conceptualized the study was "making connections: day-by-day." Themes that emerged are (a) the many phases; (b) the long and winding road; (c) a new me, my purpose; and (d) our new community.

Nurses' knowledge and understanding of maternal experiences of having an infant with LGEA will enable for increased physical closeness, optimizing time spent together to learn their infant's unique personality. Creating partnerships with mothers can enhance our understanding of their perspectives, concerns, needs, and guide interventions.

Further exploration of family dynamics including fathers, siblings, and contextual factors may illuminate interventions to enhance relationships and communication that may influence developmental outcomes for families of infants with LGEA.