Parenting Process of Mothers Raising Low Birth Weight Infants Without Medical Technology Dependence After Discharge from Neonatal Intensive Care Units: A Qualitative Study

Background: Although advances in neonatal care have improved the survival of low birth weight (LBW) infants, little is known about the parenting process of mothers raising LBW infants without medical technology dependence after discharge from neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Purpose: This study aimed to clarify the parenting process of mothers in Japan raising LBW infants without medical technology dependence following NICU discharge. Methods: A qualitative, inductive design using the modified grounded theory approach was employed. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 13 mothers raising LBW infants without medical technology dependence after NICU discharge. Data analysis focused on mothers’ experiences during approximately the first 3 months following discharge, a critical transitional period when parenting becomes integrated into daily life. Results: The parenting process was characterized as gaining a sense of assurance through trial and error in an uncertain environment shaped by the weight of life and fragile infant responses. Mothers began parenting with heightened responsibility and vigilance, engaged in cautious trial-and-error caregiving owing to difficulty interpreting infant cues, sought positive feedback to validate their caregiving, and gradually developed assurance through observing infant growth. Throughout the process, mothers continued to manage family roles and services while carrying underlying guilt related to giving birth to a small infant. Conclusion: Mothers raising LBW infants without medical technology dependence require support that addresses uncertainty, decision-making, and the gradual development of a sense of assurance. These findings provide important implications for nursing support during and after the transition from NICU to home.