The thesis explored the phenomenon of catch-up, a term used in relation to the development of children born prematurely. I considered how the term catch-up and the associated practice of corrected age influenced the mothering of children born prematurely at or before 32 weeks of gestational age. Initially, I considered the ways in which the notion of catch-up has drifted from its original specific meaning and highlighted theconfusion around the use of the practice of corrected age. A thematic analysis associated with theterm catch-up was developed from internet based discussion boards and email groups which support families with children born prematurely; these themes were then tested in interviews with 17 mothers whose children were aged 3, 5 or 7 years of age and who live in five primary care trusts in the South West of England. The central theme from the analysis interpreted catch-up as hope which either supports the mothers' hopes and dreams for their children or is regarded as a myth that can lead to the promotion of false hopes and expectation, a double-edged sword, where mothers see their children through the mediated gaze of catch-up. This paradox of hope was explored referencing the French existentialist Gabriel Marcel. I considered the notion of catch-up as a trial with characteristics of captivity, duration, endurance and fluidity before then considering whether mothers were altered by their experience of having children born prematurely.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:585488 |
| Date | January 2008 |
| Creators | Manns, Sarah Violet |
| Publisher | University of the West of England, Bristol |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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