Table 3. Statement II.

Activities foster a transition from following health care instructions to possessing health care skills.
Following health care instructions: “I thought I would only do it wrong. But, they [health professionals] however, encouraged me. And my daughter, I have a 19-year-old daughter, said: ‘Bodily contact that’s what’s really important. So, I thought if this is really important [I’ll follow the instructions]” (Theo, 37 years old, son [29+3, discharged], 8:53–8). “Since we’ve been told that this is so important we cuddle [the baby] as much as possible,” (Gerald, 32 years old, son [24+0, in-patient], 9:154–6). “From the very first second, they [health professionals] are your guides and over many weeks, you feel totally dependent” (Cornelia, 34 years old, son [30+4, discharged], 5:1246–8).
Gaining health care skills: “We asked a lot, we wanted to understand [the decisions of the health professionals]. (…) Talking with them, that’s the way you grow into it” (Max, 39 years old, son [30+4, discharged], 3:454–5). “During bradycardia, you are supposed to massage the child” (Luzia, 33 years old, twin sons [28+4, in-patient], 1:1230–3). “I read one and the same story to him night and day. (…) Finally, I started to change the diapers inside the incubator” (Simone, 37 years old, son [25+2, discharged], 7:13–8).
Having health care skills: “At night, when it [the monitor] beeps—it beeps when he [the baby] stops breathing–we [immediately] check what’s going on. Sometimes there are incidental interferences. Or it beeps because the electrode is on the romper” (Lukas, 29 years old, son [26+6, discharged], 4:42–4). “They [the health professionals] ask: Have they [twins] completely drunk up? In the back of my mind I was thinking: If not, they [twins] would get it [the milk] via the feeding tube” (Marie, 37 years old, triplet daughters [33+5, discharged], 1:303–5). “And then they wouldn’t be able to go home. (…) They have to be off the feeding tube for a few days before they are allowed to go home” (Luzia, 33 years old, twin sons [28+4, in-patient], 1: 306–8).

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)).