Encouraging mother-child attachment in prematurity situations: nursing interventions at the Ribeirão Preto Clinical Hospital

Abstract

This study aims at describing nursing actions performed in the high-risk neonatal units at a university hospital of the University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto so as to favor mother-child attachment in prematurity situations. The nurse accompanies parents in their first visit, giving them support as well as information concerning the equipment surrounding the newborn and encouraging skin-to-skin contact, touching and talking. Parents' access to and staying with high-risk newborns is permanently allowed. A visiting program by grandparents and siblings of pre-term newborns was implemented, even when under intensive care, which encourages family contact. Parents participate in a support group with other parents who experienced the situation of having their pre-term children in serious conditions and hospitalized. We consider that our experience has favored the establishment of mother-child and family attachment, observing greater interaction between the family and the newborn, particular involving the mother. Greater interest in learning about care as well as satisfaction concerning the assistance received have also been expressed by families.