Table 2. Statement I.

Activities foster a transition from a feeling of parental immaturity to a feeling of maturity.
Being an immature parent: “I don’t feel complete. I am not a mother yet, not fully a mother. It is just too early” (Lea, 34 years old, daughter [25+0, in-patient], 2:663–5). “At the beginning I felt like a visitor. It took ridiculously long until I realized that they were my children. I came [to the hospital], did a few things and went home. It was as if I were just a visitor, as if they weren’t my children” (Tim, 40 years old, twin daughter and son [27+2, discharged], 3:722–6).
Becoming a mature parent: “To tell the truth, we had two and a half months training to get to know the kids” (Tim, 40 years old, twin daughter and son [27+2, discharged], 3:711). “It was important for me to be there, to take part [in caring for the child], so that I realized that I was the mother of this tiny child” (Ruth, 40 years old, son [28+0, discharged], 2:367–9).
Being a mature parent: “They [health professionals] have started asking me: what do you think, how should we position him, and which positions does he like? You don’t feel so helpless or just having to follow to their instructions. (…) I have started experiencing myself as his mother” (Simone, 37 years old, son [25+2, discharged], 7:357–62). “First, you are involved in [neonatal] care and you are somehow supervised. Then you get home and you already know how it [baby care] works” (Max, 39 years old, son [30+4, discharged], 3:721–7).

Bold = sub-themes, italic = original illustrative quote, (pseudonym, age, daughter or son, [gestational age at birth, in-patient or discharged at the time of the focus group interview], number of focus group: transcript line(s)).