Mothers Face Research Articles

From Adolescence to Motherhood: Understanding the Plight of Teenage Mothers

Teenage motherhood continues to be a pressing societal issue because it significantly impacts lives of adolescent girls as they transition to motherhood. Using a qualitative transcendental phenomenology, this study explored the lived experience of senior high school teenage mothers in one of the schools in Bukidnon. Data were collected through phenomenological in-depth interview with strict adherence to ethical principles. The data were analyzed using Hyper Research software to determine the code, categories, and themes. For the participants, teenage motherhood can be summarized into three emerging themes such grappling with motherhood, social dilemmas and support, and appreciating motherhood. Grappling with motherhood involved balancing family and student life, understanding the occurrence of pregnancy, and hurdling the challenge of teenage motherhood. Furthermore, the participants as a teenage mother have to face social dilemmas and such as various family-related struggles. However, they also received a lot of family support. In the long run, the participants have appreciated motherhood as they became aware of the joy of motherhood as they made their dreams and contentment of the life of being a teenage mother. Based on the findings, several recommendations are proposed. The lived experience of the teenage mothers provides valuable insights about the challenges these young mothers face, the positive learning experiences they gain, and their aspirations for the future. Understanding these aspects is crucial for developing comprehensive support systems, challenging societal stereotypes, and empowering teenage mothers to navigate their roles as parents and individuals successfully. It is recommended that future researchers may conduct longitudinal research on the long-term outcomes and interventions for teenage mothers.

CLINICAL PROFILE AND OUTCOME OF INFANT OF DIABETIC MOTHER IN A TERTIARY CARE CENTRE

Background: Diabetes poses risks during gestation, with 80% attributed to gestational diabetes mellitus. It leads to complications from pre-conception to long-term. Infants born to diabetic mothers face various challenges, from spontaneous abortions to congenital anomalies. The study aimed to assess the clinical profile and outcome of the infants born to diabetic mothers at Nobel Medical College. Methods: This was a prospective observational study carried out in the Department of Pediatrics, Nobel Medical College Teaching Hospital, Biratnagar from September 2022 to August 2023. Consecutive sampling was done to include infants born at our institute to diabetic mothers. Variables like demographic and obstetric profile of the mothers, sex of the newborn, mode of delivery, birth weight, complications, and outcome were collected. Descriptive data analysis was done using SPSS Version 29. Results: A total of 79 infants born to diabetic mothers at our institute were studied. Of them, 18 (21.52%) were born to prediabetics and 61 (78.44%) to mothers with gestational diabetes. There were 42 (53.16%) male and 37 (46.84%) female. Twenty-six (32.91%) were born preterm, and LSCS was required in 41 (51.89%) cases. Sixteen (20.25%) were large for gestational age. Fifty-five (69.62%) developed one or multiple complications while 44 (55.7%) required NICU admission. The most common was hypoglycemia, followed by respiratory complications seen in 19 (24.05%) and 16 (20.25%) respectively. Conclusions: Diabetes during pregnancy is associated with various complications for the infant. A timely diagnosis and proper glycemic control of the mother are of great importance in the reduction of complications.

Exploring breastfeeding patterns and barriers in a Kerala tertiary care hospital: a cross-sectional study

Background: Exclusive breastfeeding is vital for maternal and child health, yet challenges persist. This study in a Kerala tertiary care hospital aimed to assess prevalence, identify barriers, and explore cultural influences. Aim was to determine the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding, uncover the barriers mothers face, and explore cultural factors affecting infant feeding choices. Methods: Utilizing Google forms, 274 postpartum women were surveyed. Participants provided data on awareness, practices, challenges, and factors influencing their infant feeding choices. Results: While 94.9% were aware of the ideal breastfeeding duration, only 74.1% practised exclusive breastfeeding until six months. Inadequate breast milk, sore nipples, and family pressure emerged as challenges. The timing of solid food introduction significantly impacted exclusive breastfeeding. Conclusions: Our study offers insights into exclusive breastfeeding practices. Culturally sensitive interventions, comprehensive support systems, and healthcare provider engagement are crucial. This study echoes recent research, emphasizing the multifaceted nature of exclusive breastfeeding practices, calling for diverse and context-specific strategies to empower mothers and ensure infants receive the best nutritional start.

Missed Opportunities for Addressing Maternal Mental Health: A Thematic Analysis of Mothers’ Experiences of Using the Well Child Tamariki Ora Service in Aotearoa NZ

Maternal mental health plays a vital role in the overall wellbeing of mothers, children, families, whānau (core support network) and communities. However, many mothers face mental health challenges during the transition to parenthood. In this study, we used an online story-sharing platform to collect the experiences of mothers who have faced unmet needs while using the Well Child Tamariki Ora (WCTO) service in Aotearoa New Zealand. From the 420 submitted stories, 125 stories related to mental health need while using the WCTO service. Using thematic analysis, we identified three main themes that highlighted the experiences of mothers with the service. This includes (1) making it seem that I’m coping: Mothers’ fear of being judged; (2) i wish I had connected with my WCTO nurse: Fostering meaningful relationships to facilitate personal information sharing; and (3) beyond the baby: Mothers desire for recognition and support during WCTO visits. These findings point to several missed opportunities for WCTO providers to inquire about mental health and offer support needed by mothers. To address this, a relational approach to care would prioritise families and whānau as the focus of care rather than just monitoring the development of babies.

Exploring Challenges Faced by Teenage Mothers: A Comprehensive Analysis

The study examines growingly prevalent situation of teenage pregnancy and maternity, focusing on emergent social, economic, and health dimensional issues. The research is given in a careful analysis of global and regional trends, which showed a high rate of teenage births in industrialized countries, with four countries, namely the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, being at the top of the list. Sub-Saharan Africa is currently under the lightning of teenage mothers' pregnancy which is a result of the early marriage and fertility customs of the region. The health concerns of teenage parenthood obviously are immediate, but can also influence the educational attainment, economic prosperity and marital patterns in future. While the newly conducted experiments show a gradual and narrowing in disparity in students' performance, the hurdles of income position and employment opportunities setbacks for young mothers have a narrowing in the labor share and the economic welfare. In the study the health outcomes of adolescent mothers have been a focus point and the program talked about the impacts of poverty and bad prenatal care. Evaluation of the "sexuality" and the "pregnancy-reduction" programs published different levels of effectiveness, the need for integrated and multi-dimensional strategies to parent’s real concerns. Summing up, this particular research serves as a platform to share challenges that teenage mothers face and hence formulating an intelligent system which serves as a guide for targeted interventions necessary for reducing the fundamental consequences of teenage motherhood in a society and among individuals. Keywords: Fourier analysis, Modern World, Social Impact, Education, Life Status and Measures of Prevention.

Coping with Academic Work and Nursing Motherhood: The Case of Akenten Appiah Minkah University of Skills, Training and Entrepreneurial Development (Aamusted), Kumasi

The study explored how student nursing mothers cope with academic work at AAMUSTED. An interpretive philosophical paradigm, qualitative research approach and exploratory case study design were used to guide the study. The study was grounded in Role Conflict and self-determination theories. A combination of purposive and snowball sampling techniques was used to select 15 nursing mothers for the study. The data were gathered through interviews and a detailed observation of the nursing students using an observation guide. The data collected from the interview was analysed using an inductive analysis approach while the observation was analysed using content analysis. The results revealed that student nursing mothers face numerous challenges in their pursuit of academic achievement but they adopt several ways to cope with them. Combining childcare, post-maternity complications and family demands makes it very difficult for student nursing mothers to focus on their academic work. To deal with these challenges, students nursing mothers relied on their husbands, hiring a babysitter, participation in group discussion, developing a good relationship with lecturers and using other psychological tactics to enhance learning. Also, most students, breastfeeding were interrupted by “lecture calls” and had to run back to lectures to avoid missing out. It is recommended that universities should consider instituting policies that can offer student nursing mothers’ academic leverage and infrastructure support. Women must also be encouraged to have stable sources of income before pursing further studies to help them financially. Husbands are encouraged to support their wives and partners to further their education and provide them with necessary support they need at early stages of childcare

The occurrence of sequential oviposition in fig wasps and the implications for interpreting sex ratio data

Abstract Pollinating fig wasps are believed to adjust their sex ratios according to standard local mate competition (LMC) theory. Standard LMC theory assumes that all mothers ovipositing in a patch or fig does so simultaneously. However, it has been shown that fig wasps can oviposit sequentially. We counted the number of figs containing dead and living mothers in figs where mothers entered naturally to estimate the incidence of sequential and simultaneous oviposition. Single mothers were the norm in two wasp species, and multiple mothers the norm in the other two. However, contrary to LMC theory, in all four species, when multiple mothers occurred, sequential oviposition seems to occur more frequently than simultaneous oviposition. The sex allocation problem fig wasp mothers face is thus more complicated than the widely assumed simultaneous ovipositing situation, and it leads to several expectations. Single mother's sex ratios should increase as the probability of additional mothers increases. Naturally founded multi‐mother figs should have more female‐biased sex ratios than the standard LMC model predicts for the final number of mothers. This is because early‐arriving mothers underestimate the number of mothers and lay more daughters than the final number of mothers would require and later‐arriving mothers can lay fewer sons to be competitive against the first mothers' too female‐biased clutches. Mothers must produce sex ratios that are optimised across a probabilistic range of foundress densities they experience.

Skilled lactation support using telemedicine in the neonatal intensive care unit.

NICU mothers face unique challenges in initiating and sustaining breastfeeding, but previous studies have focused on outpatient breastfeeding support. We conducted a retrospective study of NICU breastfeeding outcomes before and after implementing telelactation. Pre-Telemedicine mothers received in-person support by NICU lactation consultants, while Telemedicine mothers received solely telemedicine consults after maternal discharge. Exclusive breastmilk feeding at discharge increased in the Telemedicine group. Notably, babies in the Telemedicine cohort who were fed any formula on admission experienced significant improvement in exclusive breastmilk feeding at discharge, and those whose mothers received at least one NICU lactation consult had the greatest improvement in exclusive breastfeeding rates at discharge. This study is the first to validate the use of telemedicine as a means of maintaining access to skilled lactation support in the NICU when in-person consults are not feasible. Incorporating telemedicine can ensure access and continuity of skilled lactation support, and sustain breastfeeding rates.

Did Descriptive and Prescriptive Norms About Gender Equality at Home Change During the COVID-19 Pandemic? A Cross-National Investigation.

Using data from 15 countries, this article investigates whether descriptive and prescriptive gender norms concerning housework and child care (domestic work) changed after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Results of a total of 8,343 participants (M = 19.95, SD = 1.68) from two comparable student samples suggest that descriptive norms about unpaid domestic work have been affected by the pandemic, with individuals seeing mothers' relative to fathers' share of housework and child care as even larger. Moderation analyses revealed that the effect of the pandemic on descriptive norms about child care decreased with countries' increasing levels of gender equality; countries with stronger gender inequality showed a larger difference between pre- and post-pandemic. This study documents a shift in descriptive norms and discusses implications for gender equality-emphasizing the importance of addressing the additional challenges that mothers face during health-related crises.

A Mother’s Woes: Implications of Gender-based Oppression on Single Motherhood

The gender-based oppression single mothers face, affecting their psychosocial well-being, is often overlooked, especially in the Philippines. This study investigates gender-based oppression, such as misogyny and sexism in workplaces and the personal lives of single mothers, and how these correlate and affect their motherhood. Three single mothers, selected through purposive sampling, were interviewed using semi-structured and open-ended questions. This study applied the feminist theory of Mary Wollstonecraft to understand the struggles of women based on gender extensively. The interviews were transcribed, and the data were coded and analyzed thematically, generating four recurring themes. Results revealed that misogyny and sexism are both rooted in patriarchy, exposing single mothers to the internalization of gender-based oppression, affecting how they view themselves. Prevailing stereotypes and gender roles ingrained into the sociocultural framework of the Philippines increased society's expectations toward single mothers because of gender. Results showed that despite challenges, the rise of feminist and women's rights groups and movements increased recognition of women in the workforce, as single mothers expressed the lack of discrimination in their workplaces. The difficulties single mothers experienced only emboldened them and promoted women's empowerment among themselves and others. Overall, the study found that single mothers are still struggling due to gender-based oppression, highlighting the need for greater support for single mothers. Misogyny and sexism exist due to patriarchy, establishing harmful roles for women. Thus, this study significantly contributes to discussions of gender discrimination and how to foster safe places for all genders, specifically single mothers in the Philippines.

Debunking the Maternal Myths and Re-Interpreting Motherhood

This paper interprets the fundamentals of motherhood with a particular emphasis on matricentric feminist viewpoints. It delves deeply into the complex aspects of motherhood, shedding light on its intricate structure with the help of feminist perspectives. Through a critical analysis of various viewpoints, the paper reveals how gender roles, cultural norms, and power dynamics interact to shape how mothers perceive and experience motherhood. It references the challenges mothers face in patriarchal systems and draws from the works of prominent feminist researchers. It also highlights how feminist ideas provide an alternative perspective for examining prevalent stereotypes and challenging binary notions of motherhood. Through this, the study contributes to a deeper understanding of how feminist viewpoints influence conceptions of motherhood and reshape the discourse on women's roles and identities. The abstract underscores the importance of considering social roles and gender issues in this investigation, highlighting their pivotal roles in shaping mothers' experiences in society.

The Association Between Maternal Short Stature and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Admission: A Longitudinal Study in Sabah.

The rising number of newborns requiring neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) care poses immediate threats to their health and places emotional and financial burdens on families and healthcare systems. This study investigates the direct effect of maternal short stature on NICU admission in Sabah, Malaysia. A longitudinal study at Hospital Wanita Dan Kanak-Kanak Sabah (HWKKS) from 2018 to 2022 included 254 Malaysian women with singleton pregnancies and neonates born after the 37th week, excluding significant disorders, smoking/alcohol use, fetal death, and malformations. Birth weight, gestational age, and neonatal condition were recorded. The association between maternal height, low birth weight(LBW), and NICU admission was analyzed. LBW prevalence was 15.35%, with an average participant height of 147.37 cm. Maternal stature was significantly associated with LBW, with the shortest quartile (Q1) having the highest risk. LBW was significantly associated with NICU admission, with LBW newborns at a sixfold higher risk. Maternal height was also significantly associated with NICU admission, with Q1having the highest risk. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve suggested combining Q1 and Q2 for the best prediction of NICU admission, indicating that shorter mothers face a higher risk of neonates requiring NICU care. Maternal short stature could be a valuable predictor of LBW and NICU admission risk. It may be a screening tool to assess these risks in healthcare settings. However, further research is needed to explore this association's underlying mechanisms and potential interventions.

Changing Motherhood in the South African Middle-Class Context

Parenting has been found to be highly contextually and culturally determined and there have been calls to research parenting within culture as it is lived. Due to changing social and economic factors, middle-class South African mothers face unique challenges in relation to the navigation of culture and class in child-rearing. Foregrounding the complexity of acculturation, this paper uses social constructionist theory in the analysis of maternal narratives and responses to video-recordings of their interaction with their infants, of a group of middle-class South African mothers from various cultural and racial groups, with an aim to understanding how mothering is changing amongst middle-class South African mothers. The findings suggest that acculturation is complex and influenced by a combination of socioeconomic status, geographical location, contact with other cultural groups and personal emotional experiences of having been parented within a particular culture.

Prevalence of Undernutrition Among Tribal Lactating Mothers in Andhra Pradesh, India.

Background In Andhra Pradesh, India, tribal communities face unique nutritional challenges due to limited access to healthcare and a predominantly plant-based diet. Maternal undernutrition is a significant concern, impacting the well-being of both mothers and their offspring. This study focuses on assessing the prevalence of undernutrition among tribal mothers in Andhra Pradeshusing the BMI-for-age criterion. Objectives The aim of this study was to comprehensively evaluate the prevalence of undernutrition among tribal mothers, explore associations with demographic factors, and assess the impact of a nutritional intervention program. The ultimate goal was to contribute to targeted interventions and policies for improving the health and well-being of these communities. Materials and methods A cohort study was conducted in the Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh, involving 340 lactating mothers and their infants. Data collection and anthropometric measurements were performed. Results The study found that 67 (19.71%) of tribal mothers were underweight at baseline. There were statistically significant associations with the Yenadi tribe, low educational status of the mother, and history of lower segment Caesarean section with a high prevalence of being underweight. No significant associations with age, occupation, or socioeconomic status were observed. Undernutrition was more common among mothers with older children and was associated with specific obstetric factors. Conclusion While the prevalence of undernutrition is lower than in some previous studies, it remains a critical concern, particularly within disadvantaged communities. These undernourished mothers face health risks, including anemia. Urgent policy interventions and nutritional programs are needed to address this issue and enhance the well-being of tribal communities in Andhra Pradesh.

Inflammation in maternal obesity – pathological mechanisms and impact on pregnancy outcomes and offspring health

The escalating prevalence of obesity among women of childbearing age has resulted in a significant proportion of pregnancies occurring in individuals with elevated Body Mass Index (BMI). Maternal obesity has emerged as a critical concern due to its extensive negative health repercussions and its association with a spectrum of pregnancy complications, encompassing miscarriage, preeclampsia and gestational diabetes, among others. Infants born to obese mothers face heightened risks of adverse outcomes, including obesity, diabetes and neurodevelopmental disorders. These health issues are underpinned by several intricate pathological mechanisms, chief among them being chronic low-grade inflammation, metabolic dysfunction and disturbances in adipokine levels. Maternal obesity has substantial implications for both short-term and long-term pregnancy outcomes, affecting the health of both the mother and the offspring. The precise mechanisms linking maternal obesity to these long-term health impacts are multifaceted and not yet fully elucidated. However, they involve the mediation of inflammatory factors and disruptions in the development of fetal tissues. It is imperative to devise strategies that can mitigate the repercussions of maternal obesity on pregnancy and offspring health. These strategies warrant additional research and intervention endeavors. Moreover, they underscore the importance of proactive measures implemented before conception to enhance the well-being and quality of life of both mothers and their offspring. Ultimately, addressing the multifaceted challenges posed by maternal obesity is a critical imperative in the realm of maternal and child health.

Breastfeeding Disparities Among Rural Breastfeeding Dyads in High-Income Countries: A Scoping Study.

Background/Objective: Low breastfeeding initiation and duration of exclusivity put rural mothers and infants at risk for morbidity and mortality and significant economic costs. This scoping study aimed to identify determinants of breastfeeding disparities among rural dyads in high-income countries and their modifiable factors. Methods: The Arksey and O'Malley methodological framework was used. A literature review was conducted using PubMed, CINAHL Complete, Embase, and APA PsycInfo databases to identify studies related to rural breastfeeding that met criteria published between 2012 and 2022. Results: Twenty-five studies were included. Rural mothers from high-income countries are more likely to be younger, be unmarried, have lower educational attainment, have lower socioeconomic status, smoke, and have a higher prepregnancy body mass index than their urban counterparts. Rural mothers across White, Black, and Hispanic racial and ethnic groups have significantly lower breastfeeding rates compared to urban mothers. Maternal physiological preparedness, breastfeeding problems, lifestyle choices, support from family, evidence-based practice, workplace support, and policy development and implementation for breastfeeding promotion were identified as modifiable factors. Interventions using technology are an emerging field to overcome rurality. Conclusions: Although breastfeeding disparities are prevalent in rural dyads, the basic challenges mothers face when breastfeeding are universal, despite geographical locations in high-income countries. More specific support needs to be provided for breastfeeding dyads to continue breastfeeding. Resource allocation needs to be improved to increase access to care. Patient-centered technology interventions may decrease breastfeeding barriers in rural areas.

Maternal Mental Health in the USA

Mothers face enormous mental health challenges that need to be addressed by counsellors. Women have higher rates of depression, anxiety, and stress due to environmental, cultural, and biological factors. Findings from a sample of 525 US mothers showed that younger mothers had higher levels of stress, anxiety, and depression, while mothers with lower incomes showed higher levels of anxiety and depression. Results also indicated that fewer mothers have levels of stress, anxiety, and depression that fall into a normal range than a normal, non-clinical population and that substantially more mothers report extremely severe levels of stress, anxiety, and depression than normal, non-mother populations. Implications for counsellors include making services accessible to low-income mothers, attending to personal gender bias, and assessing clients for anxiety, depression, and stress.

Mothers’ perceptions of barriers and opportunities for health-promoting lifestyle one year postpartum

Abstract Background Pregnancy is often seen as an opportunity for women to transition to a health-promoting lifestyle but maintaining healthy habits can be challenging in the postpartum period. This study aims to explore women's experiences with lifestyle changes related to diet, physical activity, mental health, and social health one year after delivery. Methods Semi-structured face-to-face interviews with women one year postpartum (n = 24; mean age 33.58 ± 0.88; mean BMI (kg/m2) 23.18 ± 3.09) recruited through a longitudinal study in Austria were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Qualitative content analysis with an inductive approach was used to analyze the data. Results Five overarching themes related to the research question emerged, including ‘social relationships and partnership,’ ‘responsibilities, stressors, and time,’ ‘diet, exercise, and sleep patterns,’ ‘mental illness,’ and ‘family and external support.’ Women's views on lifestyle changes reflect the diversity of different personalities and life circumstances. However, the results suggest that women find it difficult to transfer their good intentions from pregnancy to postpartum behavior, regardless of their initial motivation. Conclusions This study highlights the need for individualized health supports that provide flexibility, such as telehealth, to address nutrition, psychological and physiological changes, feelings of distress, and lack of support. Health professionals and support systems can provide targeted, evidence-based interventions and support for this population by understanding how the transition to motherhood affects mothers’ lifestyles and health habits. Overall, the study provides valuable insight into the challenges and opportunities that mothers face postpartum and can inform the development of evidence-based interventions to promote their health and well-being. Key messages • There is a need for individualized health support (e.g. telehealth) that provides flexibility in the postpartum period for maintaining a health-promoting lifestyle. • Understanding postpartum transition enables health professionals and support systems to provide evidence-based interventions for maternal well-being.

Motherhood Experiences of Incarcerated Pregnant Women: A Phenomenological Study.

Motherhood in prison is a topic of growing importance and concern in the field of criminal justice. Incarcerated mothers face unique challenges that can have profound psychological impacts. The purpose of this study was to gain a deep understanding of pregnant prisoners' lived experiences of motherhood. This qualitative research was carried out using descriptive-interpretive phenomenology via interviews with 11 pregnant or early postpartum women in prison. The participants were purposefully selected from incarcerated pregnant women in a prison in Iran from 2019 to 2021. The MAXQDA software version 10 was used for data analysis, using Van Manen's six-step phenomenological approach. The main theme of "living in a dichotomous world "consisting of two subthemes of "moving between unity and separation" and "being subject to ambiguity and uncertainty" emerged in this study. Motherhood in prison is just like living in a shaky and chaotic world, in which mothers are confused between reaching to and separating from their children. They are ambivalent about motherhood and experience mixed emotions of attachment and abandonment to their child and cannot be confident regarding the future of themselves and their children. Incarcerated mothers experience mixed emotions of attachment and abandonment towards their children, which leaves them uncertain about the future. It is recommended that security personnel of the prisons and families offer care and support to incarcerated mothers through constructive communications and empathy to enhance their well-being. It also seems crucial to adopt a community-centered approach that provides empathetic support and implements inclusive policies.

Adolescent Childbearing in India: Causes and Concerns

Globally, adolescent pregnancy is one of the key issues in women’s reproductive health. Adolescent mothers face a higher risk of obstetrical concerns, and motherhood in adolescence is strongly influenced by lower education level and lower socioeconomic status. The present study was carried out across all Indian states and Union Territories using the National Family Health Survey, rounds 1 to 5 (1992–1993 to 2019–2021) in which various socioeconomic and cultural factors associated with adolescent pregnancies was examined in detail. The article uses univariate, bivariate with chi-square test, and multivariate logistic regression models to understand the extent of which socioeconomic factors and sexual behavior of the couple are related to early motherhood experiences. It was found that age at marriage, respondent education, employment, age gap between partners, and religion are some of the important variables that affect the likelihood of adolescent pregnancy among females in Indian states. Comprehensive institutional efforts like free contraceptives and counseling services should be provided to address the increasing risk of pregnancy among adolescents.