Phototherapy is the initial treatment for neonatal ictericia. We aimed to know mother's perception about this treatment and to identify theirs difficulties related to the phototherapy treatment. It is a descriptive study with qualitative approach. It was conducted in the shared accommodation (SA) of a public hospital in Fortaleza-CE, with 08 puerperal women in the age group from 13 to 25 years old. The data were collected in May and June/2006, before interview with two orienteering questions's research: What does it mean for you to see your child under phototherapy; What are the difficulties faced in relation to the care with your baby under phototherapy? In the analysis of the speeches we identified the categories such as: perception of the mother about the care with her baby under phototherapy, difficulties faced by the mother with her child under phototherapy and the mother after receiving the orientations. We concluded that it is necessary to rethink the orientations and assume authentically the Nursing care to the binomial mother-son.
Phototherapy; Mothers; Newborn; Nursing