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This study examines the association between posttraumatic growth (PTG) and two psychological attributes, resilience and optimism, in first‐time mothers, after controlling for demographic and motherhood‐related characteristics. PTG, the self‐examination triggered by life‐changing events, contains five factors: (1) relating to others, (2) new possibilities, (3) personal strength, (4) spiritual change, and (5) appreciation of life. Outcomes from studies conflict on whether PTG is associated with the two psychological attributes of resilience (the ability to resume one's life after adversity) and optimism (viewing life in a positive light). This study used a cross‐sectional design. A convenience sample of first‐time mothers whose infants were between 3 months and 1 year (N = 415) completed questionnaires containing several standardized and reliable instruments including those measuring the independent variables of resilience and optimism, and the dependent variable of PTG. A STROBE checklist guided the reporting of this study. Resilience was associated with overall PTG and four of its five factors. Optimism also was associated with overall PTG but only associated with two of its five factors. PTG profiles and squared semipartial correlations indicated that resilience had the stronger association, compared to optimism, with PTG and most of its factors. Our study's findings on the strong link between resilience and PTG suggest the need for research examining the impact of specific psychosocial nursing activities (e.g., providing emotional support; assisting others to identify their own strengths; encouraging the mobilization of one's internal resources; furnishing needed resources and referrals; and supplying health education and information), as these activities may not only promote resilience but also may contribute to PTG. Patient or Public Contribution: First‐time mothers responded to online questionnaires, otherwise there was no patient or public contribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mothers' social integration with other mothers in the same residential area has been shown to be beneficial for their health and well‐being. The socio‐psychological resources afforded by other mothers aid the transition to motherhood. However, much less is known about the processes whereby mothers integrate with other local mothers. Therefore, we analysed first‐time mothers' experiences of social integration with other mothers in the same neighbourhood. Through three waves of semi‐structured interviews, we followed eight Finnish first‐time mothers' everyday lives for a year. The narrative analysis of these longitudinal interviews revealed three story types – social integration, social exclusion and social disconnection – that depicted mothers' different experiences of integration with other local mothers. The perceived similarity of experiences, goals and interests related to motherhood enhanced the development of a shared sense of identity and supported integration with other local mothers. We discuss our findings in relation to the social identity model of identity change (SIMIC). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: An association between a history of induced abortion and psychological well‐being post‐abortion has been demonstrated in recently published studies, which is contrary to the findings of existing known high‐quality studies. Material and methods: An evaluation was conducted to determine whether a history of abortion affected the psychological well‐being and parental self‐efficacy of first‐time mothers and their partners; this assessment was performed when the child was aged 18 months. Questionnaires were administered to 492 first‐time mothers, 37 of whom had a history of abortion, and their partners (n = 436). Women with previous miscarriages, ectopic pregnancies, and deliveries were excluded. The women were allocated to an abortion group or a comparison group, depending on each woman's abortion history obtained from medical birth registry data. Psychological well‐being, which encompassed social and emotional loneliness, marital satisfaction, social phobia, and depression, was evaluated as a predictor of maternal and paternal self‐efficacy within the two groups. The analysis was conducted using multi‐group structural equation modeling. Results: Induced abortion was not predictive of maternal or paternal well‐being or parental self‐efficacy. Overall, maternal and paternal psychological well‐being was predictive of parental self‐efficacy when an assessment was performed, regardless of an abortion history. After testing the invariance of multi‐group models, psychological well‐being was similarly found to predict parental self‐efficacy in both the abortion history and comparison groups. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the psychological well‐being of parents is an important predictor of maternal and paternal self‐efficacy during toddlerhood. Abortion history was not demonstrated to negatively impact the psychological well‐being of parents with respect to their capacity for parental self‐efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An antenatal/postnatal intervention involving proactive telephone support and written materials was conducted among primiparas. Four hundred women, from the Split‐Dalmatia County, Croatia, were randomized between November 2013 and December 2016 into three groups: intervention (IG), active control (ACG) and standard care (SCG). Primary outcome was exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) at 3 months. Secondary outcomes included breastfeeding difficulties, attitudes towards infant feeding, breastfeeding self‐efficacy and social support. Practice staff were blinded to group allocation. Of 400 women, 45 (11%) were lost to follow‐up, and final analyses were conducted on 129 (IG), 103 (ACG) and 123 (SCG) participants. EBF rates at 3 months were significantly higher for the IG (odds ratio [OR] 4.6, 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.7 to 8.1; EBF 81%) as well as at 6 months (OR 15.7, 95% CI, 9.1 to 27.1; EBF 64%) compared with SCG (EBF 47% at 3 months and 3% at 6 months). Higher rates were also observed for the ACG at 3 months (OR 2.2, 95% CI, 1.3 to 3.8, EBF 68%) and 6 months (OR 2.3, 95% CI, 1.4 to 3.9, EBF 16%). Participants in the IG had the highest increase in positive attitudes towards infant feeding, in comparison to baseline, and significantly higher breastfeeding self‐efficacy. Participants in SCG experienced significantly more breastfeeding difficulties, both at 3 and 6 months, in comparison to AC and IGs. Written breastfeeding materials and proactive telephone support among primiparas are an effective means of increasing breastfeeding rates, decreasing breastfeeding difficulties and improving self‐efficacy and attitudes towards infant feeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate public health nurses' experiences of using interpreters when meeting with Arabic‐speaking first‐time mothers. Design and Sample: An inductive qualitative design was used. Individual interviews were conducted with Swedish public health nurses (n = 11) with experience of working in child health care with interpreters when meeting with Arabic‐speaking first‐time mothers. Measures: Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results: The analysis of the interviews resulted in one overarching theme: Having to accept and learn to incorporate interpreters when meeting with Arabic‐speaking first‐time mothers. Three subthemes were identified: (a) enabling an understanding of the situation of the mothers; (b) contributing to a trustful relationship; and (c) creating disturbing elements in the dialogue. Conclusions: Using interpreters optimized the conversation between the public health nurse and the Arab‐speaking first‐time mother; however, the complexity of using interpreters was also apparent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To assess the effect of pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) on pelvic floor muscle strength and urinary incontinence ( UI) in primiparous women who underwent a home training program between three and 9 months after delivery. Design Randomized controlled trial. Population One hundred primiparous women were consecutively recruited from four different antenatal clinics in the urban area of Stockholm, Sweden. Women with UI who had undergone normal term singleton vaginal delivery, 10-16 weeks postpartum were randomly allocated to either intervention or control group. Methods Maximally voluntary contraction ( MVC) and endurance were measured with a perionometer. The Oxford grading scale was used to manually estimate the strength of the pelvic floor muscle and self-reported symptoms of UI was registered through the Bristol Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Module ( ICIQ FLUTS) questionnaire. Main outcome measures Maximally voluntary contraction of the pelvic floor muscle measured with a perionometer. Results Maximally voluntary contraction increased significantly in both groups between baseline and follow up ( p < 0.05). The median MVC in cmHg for the intervention and control group was 16.2 and 12.1 at baseline and 26.0 and 18.2 at follow up, respectively. The median endurance, in seconds, for the intervention and control group was 9.6 and 12.0 at baseline and 26.7 and 23.4 at follow up, respectively. Pelvic floor muscle strength measured with the Oxford Scale increased significantly in both groups between baseline and follow up ( p < 0.05). Conclusion The results indicate that home-based PFMT is effective. However, written training instructions were as efficient as home-based training with follow up visits every sixth week. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE: The purposes were to (a) provide an 8-week, short-term, psychotherapy group as a nonpharmacologic, evidence-based intervention for first-time mothers at risk for postpartum depression (PPD) and (b) determine if women's scores in the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale changed after participation in the intervention. CONCLUSION: The women who participated in the short-term group psychotherapy intervention experienced a decrease in their Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale scores, reducing their risk for PPD. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Group psychotherapy is an effective, evidence-based intervention to reduce the risk for PPD and should remain a current competency of psychiatric advanced practice nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PROBLEM: Little is known about the rates, correlates, and consequences of depression among a sample of first-time mothers. METHODS: Four-site prospective study of the first 3 years of life among first children born to first-time mothers, including adolescent ( N= 396), lower- ( N= 169), and higher-resource adult ( N= 117). Mothers were administered the Beck Depression Inventory prenatally and 6 months postpartum. Measures of maternal and infant behaviors were taken at 8 months. FINDINGS: Adolescent mothers displayed higher prenatal and 6-month rates of depression than lower- and higher-resource adult mothers, with significantly more adolescent mothers “consistently” depressed at the two time points than lower- and higher-resource adult mothers. Further, adolescent mothers were significantly more likely to become depressed after their babies were born than lower- or higher-resource adult mothers. Depression was negatively related to parenting practices and babies' behavior. As depression increased, mothers scored less favorably in maternal warmth and sensitivity, contingent responsiveness, and general verbalness; children scored less favorably in warmth seeking toward their mothers. CONCLUSION: Findings signify the need for counseling and nurse-based intervention and prevention services geared at preparing pregnant adolescents for motherhood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. The purpose of this study was to investigate first-time mothers undergoing cesarean section in the absence of medical indication, their reason for the request, self-estimated health, experience of delivery, and duration of breastfeeding. We also aimed to study if signs of depression postpartum are more common in this group. Method. In a prospective cohort study 357 healthy primiparas from two different groups, "cesarean section on maternal request" (n=91) and "controls planning a vaginal delivery" (n=266) completed three self-assessment questionnaires in late pregnancy, two days after delivery and 3 months after birth. Symptom scores from the Edinburgh postnatal depression scale at three months after birth were also investigated. Results. Women requesting cesarean section experienced their health ass less good (p<0.001) and were more often planning for one child only (p<0.001). They more often reported anxiety for lack of support during labor (p<0.001), for loss of control (p<0.001), and concern for fetal injury/death (p<0.001). After planned cesarean section women in this group reported a better birth experience compared to women planning a vaginal birth (p<0.001). They were breastfeeding to a lesser extent three months after birth (p<0.001). There were no differences in signs of postpartum depression between the groups three months after birth (p=0.878). Conclusion. The knowledge gained from this study may help in understanding why some women prefer to give birth with elective cesarean section. It also elucidates the need for awareness of professional support during vaginal birth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary • The aim of this research was to identify needs, perceptions and experiences of first-time mothers in the postnatal period. • Data were collected through focus groups and in-depth interviews from a sample of 13 women, 61% were aged 20 years or less, from an urban city area in Southern Ireland. Through content analysis, key themes were identified relating to birth and hospitalization, support, motherhood and psychological issues. • Attendance at antenatal classes was variable and perceptions of being unprepared for birth and motherhood prevailed. Participants appeared shocked at the amount of pain experienced during birth and had little rest during hospitalization. They received physical and emotional support and preparation for childcare from midwives. Breastfeeding, while promoted, by midwives was not acceptable. • The ‘maternal mother’ was key in providing direct childcare, advice and emotional help, support for attendance at school and ‘time out’ to socialize. Support was reciprocal if the maternal mother had young children. • Professional support by public health nurses was well-established. However, emphasis was perceived to be on ‘baby's development'. • Maternal depression, loneliness, living in homes with limited space and difficulty in ‘letting go’ of baby care to return to school or work were reported. • Implications for antenatal preparation, national policies, motherhood, and the need for further research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]