Mothers’ experiences of journaling during their infants’ stay in a baby-friendly NICU: a hermeneutic phenomenological study

Background: The experience of mothers keeping a diary during their baby’s stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) can be deeply significant, serving as a coping mechanism and a means of emotional expression. This study aimed to explore mothers’ experiences during their infants’ hospitalization in the NICU, as reflected in maternal diary entries, using a hermeneutic-phenomenological approach. Methods: A hermeneutic phenomenological approach was employed to gain an in-depth understanding of mothers’ experiences in the NICU. The participating mothers were asked to complete a one-page diary entry for five consecutive days, documenting their perceptions of emotional closeness and the time spent with their infants. Results: The findings revealed that mothers initially experienced emotional detachment and uncertainty due to physical separation from their infants. However, over time, as they engaged in skin-to-skin contact, participated in caregiving activities, and adapted to the NICU routine, their sense of emotional closeness gradually increased. The journaling process provided a structured means for mothers to reflect on their emotions, track their bonding experiences, and process the challenges associated with NICU hospitalization. Additionally, factors such as nursing support, opportunities for parental involvement in infant care, and peer interactions played a significant role in shaping emotional closeness. Conclusion: The study highlights the importance of structured interventions that promote emotional closeness between mothers and their infants in the NICU. Encouraging early parental involvement, facilitating skin-to-skin contact, and incorporating expressive writing techniques such as journaling into nursing practices may help strengthen mother-infant bonding. Future research should focus on evaluating the long-term effects of these interventions on maternal well-being and infant development. © The Author(s) 2026.