Trying to Do What Is Best: A Qualitative Study of Maternal-Infant Bonding and Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome.
Katherin Rockefeller, Lynda C Macken, Alexa Craig
PMID 31166199WHAT IT FOUND
Mothers of infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome described trying to do what is best.
They valued being with their infants, father involvement, and clear nonjudgmental teaching. They said guilt, fear of judgment, and frequent withdrawal scoring disrupted bonding and care.
Key findings
01Mothers described trying to do what is best, and bonding and loving their infant were central parts of that effort.
02Nine of 13 cases involved the infant's father, and mothers described these male figures as critical to maternal and infant wellbeing.
03Barriers included feeling judged, especially in community settings, and frustration with FNASS withdrawal scoring.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
Only 13 of 18 mothers approached participated, and recruitment was convenience based from one hospital and one support group. The study was conducted at a single urban tertiary center in one state, and participants were English-speaking mothers, so findings may not apply to other settings or populations. Mothers who participated may have been more secure in recovery or had more stable supports; mothers in higher-risk situations may have avoided a researcher who could be a mandated reporter. Infant location and illness course during hospitalization were not recorded accurately. No member checking was done because of anonymity protections. Qualitative interviews describe mothers' experiences and perceptions; they do not test whether rooming-in, education, father involvement, or FNASS scoring changes improve outcomes.
Declared interests
The authors reported no competing interests to disclose.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read these themes as proof that rooming-in, father involvement, or FNASS scoring changes improve infant outcomes. The study interviewed 13 mothers about their experiences and did not test any treatment.