scholarly journals The Maternity Experience of New Zealand Samoan First-time Mothers

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Marianna Churchward
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Interpersonal Relationships ◽  
Intergenerational Relationships ◽  
Embodied Experience ◽  
Theoretical Frameworks ◽  
Pregnancy And Childbirth ◽  
Early Motherhood ◽  
First Time Mothers ◽  
Before And After ◽  
First Time

<p>Motherhood is a life-changing event. It is a significant milestone for a woman. This thesis explores the concept of motherhood from the perspectives of Samoan first-time mothers living in New Zealand. The thesis traces their experiences from conception, pregnancy and childbirth through to early motherhood. Their narratives are the focus of the research and are complemented by the viewpoints from some of their own mothers, and maternity health professionals.  The overarching question, ‘What are the experiences of a group of first-time New Zealand-born Samoan mothers before and after birth?’ was framed from a strengths-based approach and draws on work which defines a strength-based approach to resilience as research that changed traditional deficit perspectives. Rather than focusing on how individuals or families have failed or struggled, emphasis is directed to how they can succeed or how they can manage (Walsh, 2006).  Interviews were conducted in Wellington and Auckland with 11 first-time Samoan mothers prior to childbirth and follow-up interviews with nine of these women within 12 months of the birth of their child. Five Samoan grandmothers, i.e. mothers of these first-time mothers, five midwives and five Plunket nurses were also interviewed.  Four sites of analysis were examined – the embodied experience of conception and pregnancy; the process of labour and childbirth; the new norm of early motherhood, and interpersonal relationships and encounters. Analysis was conducted through the overarching lens of the Samoan concept of the vā (Wendt, 1999), the theoretical frameworks of ‘negotiated spaces’ (Mila-Schaaf and Hudson, 2009) and sophisticated mediation (Churchward, 2011).  It was found that the first-time New Zealand-born Samoan mothers engaged in a complex and, at times, contradictory process of seeking support during their transition to motherhood. They demonstrated resilience and their skill as sophisticated mediators. The women depended on relationships, some biological and some not, that were reliable and sustainable and the interaction and care that the relationship offered. Intergenerational relationships were important to these first-time New Zealand-born Samoan mothers, particularly ones they had with their own mother, or someone close to them, as it was pivotal in the way in which they constructed their maternity experience.</p>

scholarly journals The Maternity Experience of New Zealand Samoan First-time Mothers

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Marianna Churchward
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Interpersonal Relationships ◽  
Intergenerational Relationships ◽  
Embodied Experience ◽  
Theoretical Frameworks ◽  
Pregnancy And Childbirth ◽  
Early Motherhood ◽  
First Time Mothers ◽  
Before And After ◽  
First Time

<p>Motherhood is a life-changing event. It is a significant milestone for a woman. This thesis explores the concept of motherhood from the perspectives of Samoan first-time mothers living in New Zealand. The thesis traces their experiences from conception, pregnancy and childbirth through to early motherhood. Their narratives are the focus of the research and are complemented by the viewpoints from some of their own mothers, and maternity health professionals.  The overarching question, ‘What are the experiences of a group of first-time New Zealand-born Samoan mothers before and after birth?’ was framed from a strengths-based approach and draws on work which defines a strength-based approach to resilience as research that changed traditional deficit perspectives. Rather than focusing on how individuals or families have failed or struggled, emphasis is directed to how they can succeed or how they can manage (Walsh, 2006).  Interviews were conducted in Wellington and Auckland with 11 first-time Samoan mothers prior to childbirth and follow-up interviews with nine of these women within 12 months of the birth of their child. Five Samoan grandmothers, i.e. mothers of these first-time mothers, five midwives and five Plunket nurses were also interviewed.  Four sites of analysis were examined – the embodied experience of conception and pregnancy; the process of labour and childbirth; the new norm of early motherhood, and interpersonal relationships and encounters. Analysis was conducted through the overarching lens of the Samoan concept of the vā (Wendt, 1999), the theoretical frameworks of ‘negotiated spaces’ (Mila-Schaaf and Hudson, 2009) and sophisticated mediation (Churchward, 2011).  It was found that the first-time New Zealand-born Samoan mothers engaged in a complex and, at times, contradictory process of seeking support during their transition to motherhood. They demonstrated resilience and their skill as sophisticated mediators. The women depended on relationships, some biological and some not, that were reliable and sustainable and the interaction and care that the relationship offered. Intergenerational relationships were important to these first-time New Zealand-born Samoan mothers, particularly ones they had with their own mother, or someone close to them, as it was pivotal in the way in which they constructed their maternity experience.</p>

scholarly journals Sophisticated Mediators: New Zealand-Born Samoan First-Time Mothers and Strategies for Their Health and Wellbeing

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Marianna Ellen Churchward
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Belief Systems ◽  
Theoretical Perspective ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Support Structures ◽  
Support Providers ◽  
Early Motherhood ◽  
Accessible Information ◽  
First Time Mothers ◽  
First Time

<p>This thesis explores the experiences of four New Zealand-born Samoan first time mothers during pregnancy, childbirth and early motherhood living in Wellington. The impetus for this research arose from findings that showed a considerable variation in the prevalence of postnatal depression between Samoan women (7.6%), Tongan women (30.9%) and others (20% for all New Zealand mothers). Qualitative, face-to-face individual interviews were conducted within a qualitative feminist framework. The two interviews with each woman were conducted during the last trimester of their pregnancy (28+weeks gestation); and 12 months post-birth. The thesis drew upon the four-element model – Epistemology, Theoretical Perspective, Methodology and Methods to provide a framework to conceptualise and clarify the foundation for this research project. Thus the thesis is best described as a feminist phenomenological social constructionist approach. The findings revealed the women of this study were „Sophisticated Mediators‟ who, although faced with many challenges throughout their pregnancy, childbirth and early motherhood experiences, mediated successfully between, and within, existing cultural and belief systems i.e. Samoan traditional values and New Zealand cultural system; to acquire or maintain resilience toward depressive symptoms during early motherhood. Support structures such as family, in particular mothers, proved to be a vital source of support for the women. Recommendations arising from the research are targeted at support providers and family members and this is discussed in detail. Antenatal care was important although antenatal classes not so; conversely, the women were high adopters of technology in the form of the internet to access information. It is vital for support providers to recognise the high regard the women had for the internet as a source of valuable and easily accessible information, and utilise those avenues more to provide information that will complement or improve the existing support structures. During the antenatal period, women should be encouraged to develop or strengthen relationships with a significant female who will be with them throughout the childbirth and early motherhood process.</p>

scholarly journals Sophisticated Mediators: New Zealand-Born Samoan First-Time Mothers and Strategies for Their Health and Wellbeing

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Marianna Ellen Churchward
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Belief Systems ◽  
Theoretical Perspective ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Support Structures ◽  
Support Providers ◽  
Early Motherhood ◽  
Accessible Information ◽  
First Time Mothers ◽  
First Time

<p>This thesis explores the experiences of four New Zealand-born Samoan first time mothers during pregnancy, childbirth and early motherhood living in Wellington. The impetus for this research arose from findings that showed a considerable variation in the prevalence of postnatal depression between Samoan women (7.6%), Tongan women (30.9%) and others (20% for all New Zealand mothers). Qualitative, face-to-face individual interviews were conducted within a qualitative feminist framework. The two interviews with each woman were conducted during the last trimester of their pregnancy (28+weeks gestation); and 12 months post-birth. The thesis drew upon the four-element model – Epistemology, Theoretical Perspective, Methodology and Methods to provide a framework to conceptualise and clarify the foundation for this research project. Thus the thesis is best described as a feminist phenomenological social constructionist approach. The findings revealed the women of this study were „Sophisticated Mediators‟ who, although faced with many challenges throughout their pregnancy, childbirth and early motherhood experiences, mediated successfully between, and within, existing cultural and belief systems i.e. Samoan traditional values and New Zealand cultural system; to acquire or maintain resilience toward depressive symptoms during early motherhood. Support structures such as family, in particular mothers, proved to be a vital source of support for the women. Recommendations arising from the research are targeted at support providers and family members and this is discussed in detail. Antenatal care was important although antenatal classes not so; conversely, the women were high adopters of technology in the form of the internet to access information. It is vital for support providers to recognise the high regard the women had for the internet as a source of valuable and easily accessible information, and utilise those avenues more to provide information that will complement or improve the existing support structures. During the antenatal period, women should be encouraged to develop or strengthen relationships with a significant female who will be with them throughout the childbirth and early motherhood process.</p>

First-time fathers’ perception of their childbirth experiences

2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (7) ◽  
pp. 929-940 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne M Howarth ◽  
Kate M Scott ◽  
Nicola R Swain
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Positive Experience ◽  
Pregnancy And Childbirth ◽  
Birth Satisfaction ◽  
Level Of Satisfaction ◽  
High Level ◽  
First Time ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Childbirth Experiences

Birth satisfaction impacts on a man’s adjustment to his new role as father. Fathers have been found to have needs similar to those of mothers during pregnancy and childbirth. Research suggests that these needs may not be being met for first-time fathers. In a quantitative survey, fathers’ birth satisfaction was similar to mothers. This study then used a phenomenological form of thematic analysis to gain an insight into the birth experiences of 155 first-time New Zealand fathers. Core themes included safety of mother and baby, understanding support role, mother in control and managing pain and care and communication after birth. Fathers commented on what impacted on their childbirth experiences and in so doing outlined their needs for a positive experience. Fathers experienced a high level of satisfaction along with a need to be involved and included.

scholarly journals First Birth at Home or in Hospital in Aotearoa/New Zealand: Intrapartum Midwifery Care and Related Outcomes

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Suzanne Claire Miller
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Emotional Health ◽  
Care Provision ◽  
First Birth ◽  
Aotearoa New Zealand ◽  
Foetal Monitoring ◽  
First Time Mothers ◽  
First Time ◽  
At Home

<p>A woman's first birth experience can be a powerfully transformative event in her life, or can be so traumatic it affects her sense of 'self' for years. It can influence her maternity future, her physical and emotional health, and her ability to mother her baby. It matters greatly how her first birth unfolds. Women in Aotearoa/New Zealand enjoy a range of options for provision of maternity care, including, for most, their choice of birth setting. Midwives who practice in a range of settings perceive that birth outcomes for first-time mothers appear to be 'better' at home. An exploration of this perception seems warranted in light of the mainstream view that hospital is the optimal birth setting. The research question was: "Do midwives offer the same intrapartum care at home and in hospital, and if differences exist, how might they be made manifest in the labour and birth events of first-time mothers?" This mixed-methods study compared labour and birth events for two groups of first-time mothers who were cared for by the same midwives in a continuity of care context. One group of mothers planned to give birth at home and the other group planned to give birth in a hospital where anaesthetic and surgical services were available. Labour and birth event data were collected by a survey which was generated following a focus group discussion with a small group of midwives. This discussion centred around whether these midwives believed their practice differed in each setting, and what influenced care provision in each place. Content analysis of the focus group data saw the emergence of four themes relating to differences in practice: midwives' use of space, their use of time, the 'being' and 'doing' of midwifery and aspects relating to safety. Survey data were analysed using SPSS. Despite being cared for by the same midwives, women in the hospital-birth group were more likely to use pharmacological methods of pain management, experienced more interventions (ARM, vaginal examinations, IV hydration, active third stage management and electronic foetal monitoring) and achieved spontaneous vaginal birth less often than the women in the homebirth group. These findings strengthen the evidence that for low risk first-time mothers a choice to give birth at home can result in a greater likelihood of achieving a normal birth. The study offers some insights into how the woman's choice of birth place affects the care provided by midwives, and how differences in care provision can relate to differences in labour and birth event outcomes.</p>

scholarly journals Adolescent and adult first time mothers' health seeking practices during pregnancy and early motherhood in Wakiso district, central Uganda

2008 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lynn Atuyambe ◽  
Florence Mirembe ◽  
Nazarius M Tumwesigye ◽  
Johansson Annika ◽  
Edward K Kirumira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Seeking ◽  
Early Motherhood ◽  
First Time Mothers ◽  
First Time

scholarly journals First-time mothers’ experiences of foetal reduction in pregnancy following assisted reproductive technology treatment in Taiwan: a qualitative study

2021 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mei-Zen Huang ◽  
Yi-Chin Sun ◽  
Meei-Ling Gau ◽  
Shuby Puthussery ◽  
Chien-Huei Kao
Keyword(s):  
Assisted Reproductive Technology ◽  
Phenomenological Approach ◽  
Reproductive Technology ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
First Time Mothers ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Big Picture ◽  
First Time ◽  
Experiences Of Women ◽  
Mothers Experiences

Abstract Background Foetal reduction—removal of one or more foetuses to reduce the number of foetuses in multiple conceptions—is a procedure used for improving pregnancy outcomes following assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment. While there is a recognition of the importance of understanding the experiences of women who undergo foetal reduction to offer appropriate help and support, studies that provide relevant insights are sparse. Our aim was to gain an in-depth understanding about first-time mothers’ experiences of foetal reduction following ART treatment in Taiwan. Methods We adopted a qualitative design based on a phenomenological approach for this study. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven first-time mothers who underwent foetal reduction following ART treatment at a fertility centre in Taipei, Taiwan. All interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed using the Colaizzi strategy. Results The views and experiences relating to foetal reduction reflected five key themes: hesitation, ambivalence and distress; the guilt of knowingly terminating a life; rituals and ceremonies to ease the sense of guilt; persuading oneself to consider the ‘big picture’; and wishing for a reunion in next pregnancy. Mothers often regretted that they took clinical advice to implant multiple embryos and then having had to resort to foetal reduction. There was a sense of hesitation, ambivalence and distress reflected in the views from all participants. They believed that they ended the fetuses’ lives knowingly and expressed strong feelings of guilt. Mothers often tried to persuade themselves to look at foetal reduction within the ‘big picture’ of the overall pregnancy outcome. Losing their unborn babies was as an unforgettable incident for most mothers, and they wished for a reunion with the lost baby in the next pregnancy. Conclusion Findings indicate the need for ART providers to undertake a more sensitive approach that involves detailed discussions with women and their families to tailor the embryo transfer processes to suit individual needs. Women who undergo foetal reduction should be provided with tailored interventions towards enhancing their coping strategies before and after foetal reduction taking into account the cultural and religious context.

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