The Path of Mothers Accepting and Adapting to the Suffering of Premature Birth: A Phenomenological Study in Iran Publisher



Ebrahimi E ; Khezeli M ; Mardani Hamooleh M ; Mansouri N ; Almasi A ; Karami B
Source: Payesh Published:2026

Abstract

Objective(s): The suffering that mothers endure due to giving birth to a premature infant is excruciating. In this study, the lived experiences of mothers regarding the factors that helped them adapt to the difficulties of preterm birth and caring for a premature infant were examined in the socio-cultural context of Iran. Methods: This qualitative research was conducted with a phenomenological approach and involved 16 mothers whose premature infants were hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit at Imam Reza Hospital in Kermanshah. The sampling was purposive. Individual and face-to-face interviews were used to collect data. Dickelman’s seven-step method was used to analyze the data. Results: The analysis of the interviews yielded to three themes including cognitive empowerment, cultivating hope and benefiting from social support. The theme of cognitive empowerment means strengthening and developing individuals' mental abilities and cognitive skills to deal with challenges. This theme was formed from a combination of four subthemes including inducing self-efficacy, perceiving threat as an opportunity, normalization and “justification”. The second theme was formed from a combination of two subthemes including; cultivating hope through prayer and gratitude and cultivating hope through fostering optimism. The third theme was emerged from a combination of two subthemes including; benefiting from support and sympathy of relatives and benefiting from support and sympathy of healthcare staff. Conclusion: Many mothers participating in this study were able to achieve a relatively suitable adaptation to the birth of their premature infants and the problems of caring for them by using their psychological strengths and resources, as well as by benefiting from the existing social support. The experiences expressed by these mothers can be helpful in developing psychosocial interventions to improve the adaptation of mothers with premature infant. © 2026, Iranian Institute for Health Sciences Research. All rights reserved.