| In recent years, there has been a growing sociological interest in the study of neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). However, existing research focuses almost exclusively on the experiences, attitudes, and behaviors of the medical community. Surprisingly, we know relatively little about the role of parents from their own perspective. Therefore, the primary aim of this dissertation is to explore the experiences of mothers whose infants are NICU patients. When infants are in the NICU, traditional conceptualizations of the maternal role are altered. The situation demands heightened maternal participation while simultaneously placing severe restrictions on maternal involvement. This research examines how mothers negotiate this tension and come to define and enact their role in the NICU context. Data for this dissertation was collected using a dual-method research design, involving ethnographic observation of the NICU, in-depth interviews with mothers of NICU infants, and in-depth interviews with medical staff. Findings suggest that the immediate response to the infant's hospitalization can be aligned with the sociological concept of anomie, as meaninglessness and powerlessness are commonly experienced by mothers of newborns in the NICU. However, mothers do not remain in a state of anomie but rather engage in the process of role-making to define their position in the NICU. The role formed from this process draws on traditional expectations of motherhood but is adjusted to fit the context of the NICU. The reshaping of the maternal role influences and is influenced by the mother's social relationships. Specifically, this research finds that medical staff both enable and constrain mothers' ability to negotiate the parental role. Conversely, analysis of the data reveal that rather than affecting the enactment of the parental role, relationships with family and friends are mainly affected by the mothers' involvement in the NICU. A mother's role in the NICU influenced if and how she engaged in these social relationships. |
