Purpose: This research was conducted to gain an understanding of the care-by-parent experience for mothers of preterm infants.
Design: Phenomenologic methodology was used to explore the experiences of six mothers. Each participant slept overnight with her infant in a private hospital room. The mother assumed responsibility for her infant's care, knowing that nursing staff assistance was available if needed. Interviews were conducted on the following day and again after the infant had been home at least four days.
Sample: The participants were six mothers of preterm infants.
Main outcome variable: Mothers' experiences as they assumed responsibility in caring for their preterm infants away from the intensive care nursery.
Results: Findings revealed that the care-by-parent experience gives the mother an opportunity to assume full responsibility for her preterm infant's care, tests the reality of caregiving, helps her learn about caregiving activities and her infant's patterns of behavior, and confirms her readiness for independent parenting and the infant's readiness for discharge home. These findings confirm the benefits of rooming-in prior to discharge of preterm infants and provide guidelines for discharge planning.