In this study, eight mothers of pre-term infants under the care of nursing staff and neonatologists in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Children's Hospital in Vancouver, British Columbia, were observed and interviewed about their birth experience and their images of themselves as mothers during their stay. Patterns and themes in the mothers' descriptions and responses were analyzed, and responses concerning emergency birth, family support, images, role negotiation and the challenge of accessing their infants were presented. Implications of these findings are then discussed followed by recommendations for educational support and practice. (Contains 4 tables.)