NADDAWI, ALFATRA A.

NCM109j – F

02\15\2023

DELIVERABLE

An article titled, “The Invisible Struggles: A Qualitative Study in Understanding Mothers’ Perceptions
and Experiences in Nurturing Small for Gestational Age Infants” had an interview in their article whereby
mothers’ of infants with small gestational age we asked of their struggles with their baby including
Breastfeeding, Introduction of food, nutrition, maternal emotion management, family management and
more. However in this discussion we would particularly discuss on Mother’s experiences and challenges
faced in handling their infants. We are going to discuss one of the participant experiences according to
her interview. . “...at first, I already decided and signed the consent for formula milk feeding to my infant
because she was born premature.” One of the mother’s concern is the feeding of milk for the infant. It is
not an easy task to feed the small infants. They are small and require nutritious food, but they choose
the food. Despite the fact that breastfeeding is known to be the best nutrition for infants under the age
of six months, some mothers are unable to provide breastfeeding exclusively. “Maryam is too hard to be
fed doctor...I don’t know what she wants. She will vomit back if she eats food like porridge. There was
an episode of diarrhoea after I fed her too much with formula milk because she refused to take any solid
food on that time...and doctor said, maybe she drank too much formula milk....” When the infants began
to receive food supplements, sometimes it is too difficult to prepare a food that the baby would enjoy.
Sometimes the mother will only give her infant formula milk due to this. Some infants were found to
have anaemia as a result of a feeding problem at some point. “My sister-in-law and my mother are
Maryam’s care takers while I’m working. She was born prematurely, I do not confident to send her to
other people to babysit her...” Due to the condition of their baby most mother will choose someone that
they know, stay nearby, and that they trust of taking care of their child in good attention and care that
they require and follow it willingly. These are the problems and management that mothers with small
gestational age infants that they encounter.

References: Ahmad, N., Sutan, R., Mohd Tamil, A., & Hajib, N. (2022). Malaysian Journal of Medicine and
Health Sciences (eISSN 2636-9346) 2 Training Division, Ministry of Health, Level 6, Menara Prisma,
Presint 3, 62675, Putrajaya, Wilayah Persekutuan Putrajaya 3 Cheras District Health Office, Ministry of
Health, Level 3, Cheras Health Clinic Building, Jalan Yaacob Latiff, 56000 Bandar Tun Razak. Cheras
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 18(6), 173–182.
https://doi.org/10.47836/mjmhs18.6.24