Maternal work in the NICU: a case study of an "NICU-experienced" mother

This study explored one woman's experience in becoming a mother to her premature son during his prolonged hospitalization. This paradigm case is an exemplar selected from a larger phenomenological study that examined the high-risk perinatal experience. Hermeneutic analysis led to the discovery of the phenomenon of maternal work embedded in the experience of this mother. Dimensions of her maternal work included working for love, working for meaningful moments, working amid uncertainty, working against the odds, and working overtime. Understanding the experience of maternal work can assist nurses to acknowledge and support the work inherent in becoming a mother within the neonatal intensive care unit.