The meaning of maternity must be deepen with parents. The goal of this study was know the meanings of maternity in face of the puerperal mothers' needs in the rooming-in of a general hospital in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. This research followed the qualitative paradigm of exploratory descriptive-like features. The data collection was taken from a sample composed of 15 women ranging from 24 to 48 hours of puerperium. By the content analysis three categories show off: the meaning of being a mother, difficulties of immediate puerperium and necessities of immediate puerperium. In the results puerperal mothers define maternity as a dream come true allied to the responsibility and commitment with the newest living being that shows up fragile and dependant on their care. We conclude that maternity for these puerperal mothers is a unique moment bearing feelings of insecurity for taking care of the newborns and self care.
Postpartum period; Health education; Rooming-in care; Women's health