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Relatively few studies investigate mothers' experiences when their babies are transferred from their local neonatal unit to a Level 3 neonatal unit (Steeper 2002). This qualitative study was designed to describe and interpret the meaning mothers attributed to their experience of having their newborn babies transferred from a local neonatal unit to a regional unit. The approach used was influenced by hermeneutics phenomenology and van Manen's human science approach (1990). A purposively selected sample of 15 English-speaking mothers in one designated regional unit in the south east United Kingdom (UK) were interviewed face to face about their experience of their babies' transfer. Interviews took place over a seven month period in 2004. Data analysis was guided by the works of van Manen (1990) and Moustakas (1994). The concept of 'distance mothering' is suggested to conceptualise how the mothers' emotional responses, information issues and adjustment were interrelated to the perceived geographical distance and their maternal role to their transferred baby and other siblings or other family members at home. The findings indicated that ideologies of motherhood or the discourses that contribute to their (re)production need to take into account the variety of different circumstances mothers faced. Rather than concentrating only on the ill transferred baby, the focus of professional care should be extended to understanding and addressing women's individual emotional responses, and need for information and adjustment in ways that would help them to meet their perceived obligations to function in other roles, including their role as mothers of their other children. Quality of information, information provision and relationships with staff were seen as playing a crucial role in helping them as they fulfilled their maternal and caring obligations.