Learning the Baby: A Maternal Thinking and Problem-Solving Process |
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Authors: | Joan M Sullivan |
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Institution: | Joan M. Sullivan, DNS, RN, is Director of Nursing Research and Evaluation, Medical Center of Louisiana, New Orleans. |
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Abstract: | purpose. To describe a maternal problem-solving process from new mothers' day-to-day experience of caring for and developing a relationship with their babies design. design. Qualitative study using grounded theory approach setting. setting. Mothers' homes (n = 23) and workplaces (n = 2) participants. participants. 25 mothers of babies from 2 weeks to 7 months main outcome measures. main outcome measures. Semi-structured interviews results. results. "Learning the Baby" was a major thinking process that emerged. Systematic thinking dominated mothers' problem-solving. Even after the babies were comforted, mothers were not certain their efforts alleviated the babies' problems, because they usually were not certain of the problem. conclusions. conclusions. Mothers' thinking directs their caregiving actions. The findings were related to previous problem-solving and women's thinking perspectives. Nurses must use planned and unplanned encounters effectively to collaborate with and teach mothers about baby behavior and health care. |
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Keywords: | Baby caregiving baby's signals maternal problem-solving priority of the baby |
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