By Julieta H. Boteros and Novie Joy C. Soledad
ABSTRACT
This study explored the infant care experience of teenage mothers using a descriptive phenomenological approach. Seven Teenage mothers, ages 15-19 years old were interviewed. These participants came from diverse educational, socio-economic and geopolitical backgrounds, who were primary caregivers of their children 0-12 months old at the time of the interview and delivered termed babies without any congenital disorders regardless of the method of delivery. The interview with teenage mothers was recorded using digital recorder and was transcribed using Hycner’s (1985) method. Findings of the study showed that essence of the infant care experience of teenage mothers are characterized by four major themes: adapting to infant care routines, facing challenges in infant care. Adjusting to become a teenage mother, feeling of fulfillment of motherhood experience. These teen mothers cared for their babies with support from their families, partner and significant others. Some of them regretted becoming mothers at an early age and was deprived of social life, sleep and time for self. They desired for self-improvement and tried to manage time. They maybe young, but they felt happy and fulfilled seeing their baby grow.