• Gaurav Pathak
• Dr. Shobha Kundgol
• Dr. Vijay Singh Rawat

“Stress” refers to the consequences of any event that poses a major risk to homeostasis. A stressor is an actual or perceived threat to an organism, and a stress reaction is an organism's way of reacting to the stressor. The birth of a preterm baby presents a unique challenge for a mother, a task for which she is unprepared. Therefore, present study aims to explore the experiences of mothers of preterm babies admitted in NICUs. Qualitative phenomenological research plan was utilized to perform the study. 13 mothers whose pre term babies admitted in NICU were chosen by using purposive sampling technique from selected hospitals of Udaipur. The tools for the present study included socio-demographic variables and semi-structured questionnaire related to the experiences of mothers. In-depth interview was conducted and voice was recorded using mobile phone recorder with semi structured. Result: On the basis of thematic analysis of the qualitative data collected from 13 participants, total six themes emerged including Emotional Responses to Preterm Birth and NICU Admission, Maternal participation in Baby’s Care, Family and Professional support, Knowledge and Confidence in Baby Care, Supposed obstacles and challenges and Optimism about baby’s recovery. The themes highlight mothers’ emotional journey after preterm birth, including fear, sadness, and hope, shaped by the NICU environment. They reflect varying levels of involvement in baby care, influenced by hospital policies and emotional readiness. Support from family and health professionals played a key role in reducing stress and building trust. Mothers also faced emotional and practical challenges but remained hopeful about their baby’s recovery.

Explore, experiences, pre term, mothers, NICU.

"A Qualitative Study To Explore The Experiences Of Mothers Of Preterm Babies Admitted In NICUs Of Selected Hospitals Of Udaipur.", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.12, Issue 8, page no.c221-c228, August-2025, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2508231.pdf

"A Qualitative Study To Explore The Experiences Of Mothers Of Preterm Babies Admitted In NICUs Of Selected Hospitals Of Udaipur.", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.12, Issue 8, page no. ppc221-c228, August-2025, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2508231.pdf