Kasımoğlu, Necla; Gürol, Ayşe; Metin, Ayşe; Polat, Şevin

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.

Yilmaz, Ayşe Daştan; Çalik, Kıymet Yeşilçiçek; Budak, Mehtap

Backgroud and objective: Maternal obesity and gestational weight gain (GWG) are important determinants of maternal and neonatal health outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the effects of prepregnancy body mass index (PPBMI) and GWG on maternal and neonatal outcomes in Türkiye. Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted in a public hospital in Turkey between December 2021 and December 2022. A total of 1137 women between the ages of 19 and 45 who had singleton and live births and had complete medical records were included in the study using simple random sampling. Data were collected using medical records and a structured interview form. PPBMI and GWG were calculated from self-reported weight and height data. Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney U, and binary logistic regression tests were used to analyze the data. Results: Among the participants, 4.7% were underweight, 61% had a normal weight, 27.6% were overweight, and 9.9% were obese on the basis of PPBMI. According to the Institute of Medicine (IOM) GWG guidelines, 17.2% had insufficient GWG, 55.1% had adequate GWG, and 27.8% had excessive GWG. Overweight women had significantly increased odds of gestational diabetes mellitus (OR = 0.479, p = 0.024), genital tract infections (OR = 2.15, p = 0.000), urinary tract infections (OR = 2.42; p = 0.011), elective cesarean delivery (OR = 8.62, p = 0.035), macrosomia (OR = 9.15, p = 0.031), and low APGAR (Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, Respiration) scores (< 7 at 5 min) (OR = 0.20, p = 0.000). Obese women also showed higher odds of elective cesarean (OR = 9.56; p = 0.030) and macrosomia (OR = 8.27, p = 0.044). Underweight women had higher odds of neonatal hospital stay > 5 days. Insufficient GWG was associated with increased risks of low birth weight (OR = 0.46, p = 0.013), third-trimester bleeding (OR = 0.45, p = 0.016), and neonatal hospitalization > 5 days (OR = 0.44, p = 0.003), while macrosomia risk was lower (OR = 2.06, p = 0.001). Conclusion: PPBMI and GWG are significant predictors of maternal and neonatal health outcomes. Elevated PPBMI and inappropriate GWG are associated with increased risks of gestational diabetes, macrosomia, cesarean delivery, low APGAR scores, low birth weight, and prolonged neonatal hospitalization. These findings highlight the critical role of routine assessment and management of maternal weight status and weight gain during prenatal care in reducing preventable complications for both mothers and their newborns.