Purpose

To explore the influence of poverty on the parenting experience and maternal developmental trajectory of Lumbee mothers with medically fragile infants.

Design

A multiple-case study design using secondary data from a larger longitudinal study of parental role attainment with medically fragile infants.

Sample

Five cases involving mothers who were Lumbee Indians and who had medically fragile infants.

Results

The key features of the mothers' talk about their parenting experiences were organized into categories that fit into five inductively derived themes related to poverty.

Implications

Health care professionals need to be aware of how the context of living in poverty affects mothers of high-risk infants who are hospitalized in tertiary care units. In particular, low-income mothers, especially American Indians living in high-poverty areas, urgently need improved community resources such as access to birth control; early prenatal care; programs to help reduce drug, alcohol, and tobacco use both during and following pregnancy; and follow-up health and developmental services for their infants.