Feelings and expectations of mothers of newborns in a neonatal intensive care unit

Objective: to know the feelings and expectations of mothers of newborns in a neonatal intensive care unit. Method: a descriptive study with quantitative approach. The sample consisted of 13 mothers who had their infant in NICU, in June and July 2008. The instrument was a form; the first part with questions related to the mothers’ characterization and the second part containing variables of the study, with objective questions and multiple choice answers. The project was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the University of the Sacred Heart under the protocol nr. 49/08. Results: most of the mothers were married young adults, had social security number, living in Bauru city, São Paulo, Brazil. Regarding the reaction to hospitalization, 77% were anxious and distressed, 61% were concerned at the moment of the interview, 38.5% felt comfortable and calm in the hospital, 84.5% reported that the mother/nursing staff was good, 77% said that there was a change in their daily life. Conclusion: the mothers showed feelings of worry, anxiety, calmness and hope. The majority believed that their child would leave soon from the NICU and that treatment would be effective, thus showing a relationship of trust with the team that assisted their newborn. Descriptors: mother; neonatal icu; nursing; neonatal nursing; newborn; nursing care; hospital care.