An untold truth about pregnancy and motherhood: A self-analysis through photography

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 209-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adi Greenboim-Zimchoni
Keyword(s):  
New Mothers ◽  
First Child ◽  
New Mother ◽  
Self Knowledge ◽  
Unrealistic Expectations

The author recounts that giving birth to her first child was a life-changing experience that she commemorated through photography. The author’s art process involves analysing her own experiences and therefore she also approached her pregnancy through an artistic lens. In this article, the author describes the art-based process used to increase self-knowledge and self-exploration of the changes occurring in life during and after pregnancy. This self-analysis contributed to the development and collection of ideas that formed the author’s identity as a new mother. Motherhood incorporates both joyous and difficult experiences, and photography allowed the author to place those experiences side by side, integrating them into a coherent story. The project can potentially benefit other new mothers experiencing the transition into motherhood – a transition often shrouded in mystery and unhelpfully laden with unrealistic expectations, as the author discovered and is demonstrated in photographs.

scholarly journals The Factors Associated with Accelerating and Reducing Postpartum Depression

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
HALEY CARTER
Keyword(s):  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Postpartum Depression ◽  
Family Support ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
New Mothers ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Best Estimate ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
New Mother

There is scarce research that has been conducted to understand this mental ailment and how it pertains to new mothers, and what factors cause a new mother to experience PPD. One troubling aspect about this illness is that there is no real knowledge about how many people are afflicted by this each year. The best estimate is that 1.9% to 82.1% women are infected each year (Norhayati, et al., 2015). This is a huge gap that informs researchers that almost no females to almost every female worldwide is plagued by PPD. Even more alarming than this wide range is that little knowledge is available about what factors cause PPD but some of the likely contributing factors are race, socioeconomic status (SES), and family support.

scholarly journals Postnatal Care Practices among the Malays, Chinese and Indians: A Comparison

2018 ◽  
Vol 45 ◽  
pp. 05002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zuraidah Mohd Yusoff ◽  
Asmiaty Amat ◽  
Darlina Naim ◽  
Saad Othman
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Traditional Medicine ◽  
Maternity Care ◽  
Postnatal Care ◽  
Modern Medicine ◽  
Review Of Literature ◽  
New Mothers ◽  
Pregnancy Status ◽  
New Mother ◽  
Care Practices

In Malaysia, each race has its own traditional medicine practice which has existed for hundreds of years before the coming of modern medicine. Also, each race has many kinds of practices that had been around maintaining the health care of the respective community. All of these races or ethnic groups regard that it is very important for new mothers to be nursed back to health and thus each has its own specific and special postnatal or maternity care. The treatment during the postnatal or confinement period is generally considered to be good and safe and can help the new mother to gain back her health to the pre-pregnancy status. It is also belief that the ingredients used are natural and usually do not caused harm to the mother’s condition. Hence, this paper is the result of the study on the traditional postnatal care practiced by the Malay, Chinese and Indian communities in Malaysia. This study was conducted through interviews and review of literature. The results obtained showed that there are a variety of treatments and practices during postnatal or confinement period for each of the race. In addition, traditional postnatal care during confinement are still being sought after and followed by the different races in Malaysia.

scholarly journals Exploring a volunteer community residential care facility for new mothers

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 86-91
Author(s):  
Romina Withanage ◽  
Margaret Hay ◽  
Samuel Menahem
Keyword(s):  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Care Facility ◽  
Postnatal Period ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
New Mothers ◽  
Residential Care Facility ◽  
Residential Service ◽  
New Mother ◽  
Set Up ◽  
First Time

Background:All women deserve a “dwelling space” during their postnatal period after the birth of their infant. This “space” provides her an opportunity to be cared for, to be replenished, to rest and to reflect on herself being a new mother before returning home. We explored a volunteer community residential service set up to help new mothers to document their experiences and determine if the outcomes matched their expectations. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were offered to all women who had utilised this service since its inception. The questionnaire explored their motivations to seek such as service and to learn of their experiences. The interviews were audio recorded, transcribed and a thematic analysis employed. Results: Over the last 8 years, 12 women, 4 twice, availed themselves of this service, two being first-time mothers. Reasons given by mothers for utilising this service included recovery from the trauma of childbirth both past and present, physical and emotional, and delaying assuming responsibilities at home. All the women had welcomed the “dwelling space”, being mothered, feeling replenished and having time to meaningfully relate to their newborn infant.The ambience of the accommodation and the care they received were above their expectations. All would recommend other new mothers to avail themselves of this service

Overcoming Isolation of the New Mother

2003 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 4-5
Author(s):  
Sharron S. Humenick
Keyword(s):  
North American ◽  
American Culture ◽  
Support Systems ◽  
New Mothers ◽  
New Mother

Isolation is a frequently mentioned and long-remembered issue for new mothers in a North American culture. Perinatal educators can play a role in helping new parents build support systems that are designed to diminish the experience of postpartum and new-parent isolation.

scholarly journals The changing career trajectories of new parents in STEM

2019 ◽  
Vol 116 (10) ◽  
pp. 4182-4187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin A. Cech ◽  
Mary Blair-Loy
Keyword(s):  
Full Time ◽  
Stem Fields ◽  
New Mothers ◽  
Career Trajectories ◽  
Working Lives ◽  
First Child ◽  
Time Work ◽  
Part Time ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Underrepresentation Of Women

The gender imbalance in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields has remained constant for decades and increases the farther up the STEM career pipeline one looks. Why does the underrepresentation of women endure? This study investigated the role of parenthood as a mechanism of gender-differentiated attrition from STEM employment. Using a nationally representative 8-year longitudinal sample of US STEM professionals, we examined the career trajectories of new parents after the birth or adoption of their first child. We found substantial attrition of new mothers: 43% of women leave full-time STEM employment after their first child. New mothers are more likely than new fathers to leave STEM, to switch to part-time work, and to exit the labor force. These gender differences hold irrespective of variation by discipline, race, and other demographic factors. However, parenthood is not just a “mother’s problem”; 23% of new fathers also leave STEM after their first child. Suggesting the difficulty of combining STEM work with caregiving responsibilities generally, new parents are more likely to leave full-time STEM jobs than otherwise similar childless peers and even new parents who remain employed full time are more likely than their childless peers to exit STEM for work elsewhere. These results have implications for policymakers and STEM workforce scholars; whereas parenthood is an important mechanism of women’s attrition, both women and men leave at surprisingly high rates after having children. Given that most people become parents during their working lives, STEM fields must do more to retain professionals with children.

Reaching Isolated New Mothers: Insights from a Home Visiting Program Using Paraprofessionals

2007 ◽  
Vol 88 (4) ◽  
pp. 616-626 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth Paris ◽  
Meagan K. Gemborys ◽  
Peggy H. Kaufman ◽  
Debbie Whitehill
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Home Visiting ◽  
Limited Resources ◽  
New Mothers ◽  
Home Based ◽  
New Mother ◽  
Relational Theories ◽  
Home Visiting Program

The Visiting Moms Program delivers a relationship-based home visiting intervention in which volunteers address challenges faced by at-risk new mothers and families. For new mothers experiencing isolation, anxiety about parenting, lack of support, or limited resources, this program offers a volunteer, who is a mother herself, in the role of a mentor mother to connect the new mother to resources, listen without judgment, and strengthen parenting abilities. Less stress for the mother and improved care for the infant are major program goals. Relational theories and studies on home visiting interventions are used as lenses for viewing this type of intervention. Vignettes are included to deepen our understanding of the mechanisms through which the new mothers change. Clinicians, program planners, and administrators are likely to find this article helpful in its coverage of the literature on volunteers and home-based services, its description of the relational intervention provided by one home visiting program using volunteers, and its recommendations for ways in which others can design such programs.

New evidence on work among new mothers. What can trade unions do?

2004 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 034-047 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siv Gustafsson ◽  
Eiko Kenjoh
Keyword(s):  
The Netherlands ◽  
Trade Unions ◽  
Labour Force ◽  
Family Policies ◽  
New Mothers ◽  
Employment Patterns ◽  
First Child ◽  
One Year ◽  
Household Panel Data ◽  
New Evidence

This article examines the employment patterns of new mothers from one year before the birth of their first child until its fifth birthday in Sweden, Germany, Britain, the Netherlands and Japan. Data on the labour force status of mothers was drawn from household panel data from each country. That data showed significant differences in the employment patterns of new mothers. This article discusses the developments in family policies that may explain differences between employment patterns of new mothers in the five countries. In particular, the authors contrast family policies in Sweden with those of the other countries because since the 1970s Sweden has had the most wide-ranging set of policies to benefit the dual-career family. In addition, using a few examples from the Netherlands and Sweden, this article discusses what trade unions can do in their respective countries in order to move society towards truly shared breadwinning and shared parenthood between women and men.

scholarly journals Women’s Experiences with Postpartum Anxiety: Expectations, Relationships, and Sociocultural Influences

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Wardrop ◽  
Natalee Popadiuk
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
New Mothers ◽  
Sociocultural Influences ◽  
Postpartum Anxiety ◽  
Transition To Motherhood ◽  
New Mother ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
First Time

Evidence about anxiety in the postpartum is sparse and contradictory. Our research expands this knowledge by using a qualitative methodology, the Feminist Biographical Method, to explore first time mothers’ experiences of postpartum anxiety. Data collection included 1.5 to 2.0 hour interviews with six women about their experiences of anxiety in their transition to motherhood. We transcribed the interviews and used an iterative hermeneutic coding process to develop themes and subthemes over the course of four coding cycles. The findings include five major themes: (a) experiences of anxiety, (b) expectations of a new mother, (c) issues of support, (d) societal scripts of motherhood, and (e) the transition. One conclusion that we draw is the need for healthcare professionals to provide improved support and validation to new mothers facing postpartum anxiety, by expanding the definition of postpartum distress, especially anxiety, and by better understanding women’s anxiety through culturally - embedded contextual and relational lenses.

scholarly journals PERSEPSI MENJADI IBU YANG BAIK: SUATU PENGALAMAN WANITA PEDESAAN PERTAMA KALI MENJADI SEORANG IBU

2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 54-60
Author(s):  
Yati Afiyanti
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Phenomenological Study ◽  
Major Theme ◽  
New Mothers ◽  
Hermeneutic Phenomenological ◽  
Good Mother ◽  
New Mother ◽  
Conversational Interviews ◽  
First Time ◽  
Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study

AbstrakSuatu studi hermeneutik fenomenologi telah dilakukan untuk mengeksplorasi suatu pengalaman pertama para wanita Indonesia di daerah pedesaan tentang persepsi mereka menjadi seorang ibu yang baik. Tujuan dari studi ini memberikan informasi, wawasan, dan pemahaman kepada para praktisi kesehatan untuk lebih memahami kebutuhan-kebutuhan seorang ibu baru (ibu yang baru pertama kali memiliki anak) dan lebih memahami bagaimana seorang ibu baru menjalani peran barunya menjadi ibu untuk pertama kali dalam kehidupan mereka. Tiga belas partisipan yang berpartisipasi dalam studi ini telah mengungkapkan pengalaman pertama dan berbagai usaha yang mereka untuk menjadi seorang ibu yang baik. Data dikumpulkan melalui wawancara semi struktur. Tema utama dari hasil studi ini adalah mencoba menjadi seorang ibu yang baik. Dalam penelitian ini, diketahui bahwa ibu yang baik dipersepsikan sebagai ibu yang: (1) sabar dalam merawat anak (2) memiliki tanggung jawab untuk merawat anaknya sendiri, (3) mampu membagi waktu dengan baik, dan (4) memprioritaskan kebutuhan anaknya dari kebutuhan dirinya sendiri. Dengan hasil studi ini diharapkan para praktisi kesehatan akan lebih memahami harapan-harapan seorang ibu baru untuk dapat menjadi seorang ibu yang baik. AbstractA hermeneutic phenomenological study was carried out to explore the experience of first-time motherhood in rural Indonesia particurly their perception to be a good mother. The purposes of the study were to provide information, insights and a greater understanding for health care practicians to have a better understanding of the needs of new mothers and the ways in which the ferform new roles as a new mother. Thirteen Indonesian women were participated in this study and described their experiences of the first-time motherhood and the ways in which they conduct their role as a good mother. Data were collected through semi structured conversational interviews. The major theme of this study was trying to be a good mother. With sub themes of: (1) to be a good mother must be patient, (2) a good mother has responsibilities to care for the baby, (3) a good mother should be able to manage her time wisely, and (4) a good mother prioritize the baby’s needs ahead of their own needs. The result of will provide health care practicians deeper understanding about expectances of new mothers in becoming a good mother.

“I Got Lucky”

Affilia ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 557-573
Author(s):  
Charity M. Hoffman
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Parental Leave ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cultural Knowledge ◽  
New Mothers ◽  
Employment Trajectories ◽  
First Child ◽  
Child Policy ◽  
Paid Labor ◽  
Paid Parental Leave

The United States is one of the few countries in the world without national paid parental leave benefits. The lack of a universally available policy drives women out of the paid labor force, with a disproportionate impact on low-income women. In this article, I illuminate the mechanisms by which structural inequality reproduces class inequality across the transition to motherhood. Between 2012 and 2015, I interviewed 44 first-time mothers from diverse class backgrounds. From their narratives, I identify three typologies of working women—professional, pink-professional, and low-wage workers—and show how formal workplace policies and informal practices, coupled with women’s cultural knowledge, shape new mothers’ employment trajectories when they have their first child. Policy makers and social workers serving new mothers need to be attuned to how women’s occupational group may facilitate or inhibit access to parental leave, in order to pave the way for more equitable paid family leave for all women.

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