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Background: Becoming a parent can be challenging. Becoming a parent for the first time during the COVID-19 pandemic might pose additional challenges, as the pandemic has imposed restrictions on society, thus affecting parental support. There were changes in parental support from child health services and preschools available for all children and their parents, so called open preschools, have been closed. This study explored first-time parents' experiences of the parental support they received during the COVID-19 pandemic., Methods: A qualitative study involving individual semi-structured interviews with nine first-time mothers who had been on parental leave during the pandemic was conducted. Data were analyzed with inductive content analysis and the results are presented in a main category with three generic categories., Results: The main category is entitled, A gap between the needs of parental support and the support provided, and it encompasses three generic categories: The first category, Formal support, refers to support from child health nurses and open preschools. The second category, Lack of formal support, encompasses the lack of person-centred support and lack of parental groups. The third category, Informal support, encompasses support from family, friends, and social media., Conclusions: The findings indicate that under the restrictions imposed by the pandemic, first-time mothers expressed the need for person-centred support to both parents which will ensure that all parents get the support they expect and need. The participants also expressed a desire for adapted parental groups that are feasible despite the restrictions to allow them to connect with other parents and build networks., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objective: The aim of this qualitative study was to examine experiences and meanings of maternal ambivalence in first-time mothers with young children., Background: In contrast with normative expectations surrounding contemporary motherhood, there is growing recognition that becoming and being a mother involves ambivalent feelings, and that these feelings are normal and have positive psychological consequences. Yet, little attention has been paid to women's subjective experiences of maternal ambivalence, and capacity to acknowledge and manage ambivalent feelings., Methods: Eleven semi-structured online interviews, with first-time mothers, were conducted and analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) methodology., Results: Two group experiential themes were identified: Crossing boundaries of acceptable mothering feelings and Mothering from a place of 'enough'. Ambivalent mothering feelings challenged participants' expectations about motherhood and themselves as mothers, producing anxiety, self-doubt and feelings of failure. Distress accompanying maternal ambivalence was especially acute when participants perceived their feelings to be unacceptable. Viewing conflicting feelings with compassion, however, helped participants to cope with their diverse and fluctuating emotional mothering experiences, allowing them to mother with a greater sense of equanimity, agency and competence., Conclusion: The study's findings indicate the potential benefits of providing information about the emotional turbulence of early motherhood as part of routine maternity care, as well as the potential value of offering parenting interventions that promote self-compassion to mothers struggling to manage feelings of ambivalence.

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]

Primipara women may require greater informational and emotional support than multipara women. Supportive communication, including informational and emotional support, can help to build a strong caregiver-patient relationship and can alleviate the difficulties associated with first-time birth. The objective of this study was to explore first-time mothers' experiences of labor and birth. Three hundred primipara women completed self-report questionnaires. Qualitative analysis of one open-ended question about the women's experience was conducted. Nine themes emerged from the data. Eight themes reflected informational and emotional support needs, whereas the final theme reflected instrumental support needs. The study concluded that informational and emotional supports are important factors of supportive communication and influence the birthing experience of primipara women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mothers with higher maternal competence in early parenthood are more comfortable performing infant skills and interpreting their infants’ cues. Further, maternal perceptions of self-efficacy are related to her ability to take care of her infant. First-time, low-income mothers’ new role, life stressors, and economic hardships can increase psychological distress resulting in less positive parenting practices. Purpose: This secondary analysis of a mixed methods study compared qualitative interview responses of mothers with the highest and lowest maternal competence scores to determine if interview responses reflected maternal competence, and to validate aspects of Bandura’s Self-Efficacy Theory. During a routine Women, Infant, Children’s (WIC) nutrition visit at 1–6 months after birth, 21 mothers completed 3 measures of self-esteem, sense of mastery, and maternal competence and were interviewed privately using a 9-item semi-structured interview guide that elicited reflections about early mothering experiences. The sample for this study (n = 8) was arrived at by taking mothers with upper (75th, N = 5) and lower (25th, n = 3) percentiles on the Parenting Sense of Competence (PSOC) and directed content analysis to compare their interview responses. In addition, efficacy expectations from Bandura’s Self-Efficacy Theory were validated in this sample by analyzing the interview responses. The findings revealed that mothers with the highest (n = 5) and lowest (n = 3) PSOC scores reported similar concerns with maternal role adaptation. However, mothers who reported lower PSOC scores verbalized more problems in the category “feelings about being a mother.” Health care professionals need to be aware of maternal competence and self-efficacy in new mothers and assist them as they assume the maternal role. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Intervention programs to prevent childhood obesity are more likely to be successful when mothers are involved and engaged. Yet programs that involve mothers do not often employ process evaluation to identify aspects of the intervention that participants enjoyed or viewed as useful. The aims of this study were to describe how participants of the Melbourne InFANT Program--an early childhood obesity prevention intervention --engaged in the program and perceived its usefulness. Process evaluation data were collected at multiple time points during and after the intervention, using mixed methods drawing upon both quantitative and qualitative data. Results from short surveys (n = 271) and interview transcripts (n = 26) revealed that the Melbourne InFANT Program was perceived as useful and relevant by most (82-93%) participants. The formats through which the knowledge and skills were delivered were considered concise and effective, and aspects considered particularly useful included group sessions and advice on practical strategies to minimize stress around mealtimes. Findings from this study are important to inform future practice and the development of interventions which are well received by participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim The aim of this study was to explore the ways that mothers' groups and playgroups support families with children aged 0-5 years and foster community connectedness in newer residential communities in Perth, Western Australia. Background The transition to parenthood is a time of increased support need. Changing community demography has resulted in a loss of traditional support structures and an increased need for local community initiatives to support families with young children. Design A qualitative descriptive design was used for this initial phase of a mixed methods sequential exploratory study. Method Data were collected between December 2011-August 2012. Interviews and focus groups conducted with 39 mothers provided insights from 16 mothers' groups and 13 playgroups. In addition, interviews were undertaken with three child health nurses and four local government early childhood staff. Findings For the participants in this study, mothers' groups and playgroups provided opportunities to learn about parenting, to build a supportive network, to forge friendships and a connectedness to the local community. The families who relocated often experienced isolation until new groups and social networks were found. In general, where participation in mothers' groups and playgroups facilitated relationships with others from the local community, connectedness to that community was reported by participants to be enhanced. Conclusion Mothers' groups and playgroups provide important community development opportunities and appear to help reduce potential isolation for mothers with young children. The findings are of interest to nurses and other health professionals working with families with young children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of the current study is to focus on the first-time mothers in their late gestation to reveal the social norms that influence their intention to feed their infants. Methods In order to make clear of the variations of social norms that influence the intention of first-time mothers in regard to feeding their infants, the study is conducted with a qualitative and descriptive analysis in mind, where 17 first-time mothers in their late gestation whose pregnancies were normal and who were visiting one particular maternal perinatal medical center in Tokyo were each given a semi-structured interview, with qualitative analysis conducted using the data obtained. Results The study subjects all revealed their intention to breastfeed, though with different feelings by indicating either "I absolutely want to breastfeed my child," "Between 'I absolutely want to breastfeed my child' and 'I want to breastfeed my child if possible'" and "I want to breastfeed my child if possible." In terms of the social norms that influence first-time mothers in their willingness to breastfeed, there were 6 options for the subjects to chose from: "Inclination toward 'natural ways,'" "Be the socially expected 'mother,'" "Be a responsible 'mother,'" "Be a wise, self-protective 'mother,'" 'Advocate the adequacy of milk-giving and being a 'mother,'" "Have the socially expected environment and knowledge required of a 'mother.'" Conclusion The social norms that influence the intention of first-time mothers to feed their infants shown in this study indicated that, while social norms stipulate the motherhood ideology and the image of a socially expected "mother" who should be responsible for protecting her children's "health," many first-time mothers had their own social norms or set of values to respond to their anxiety of failing to breastfeed and childrearing stress, as well as to justify their actions in avoiding to be recognized as deviating from their "mother" role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ensuring women receive optimal breastfeeding support is of key importance to the health of mothers and their infants. Early discharge within 24 h of birth is increasingly common across Australia, and the practice of postnatal home visiting varies between settings. The reduction in length of stay without expansion of home visits reduces midwives' ability to support breastfeeding. The impact of early discharge on first-time mothers establishing breastfeeding was unknown. The study aim was to understand the experiences of first-time Australian mothers establishing breastfeeding when discharged from the hospital within 24 h of a normal vaginal birth. Methods: A qualitative interpretive method was used. Semi-structured interviews with 12 women following early discharge were conducted. Data were audio recorded, professionally transcribed, and subjected to a thematic analysis. Results: Three interconnected themes of 'self-efficacy', 'support' and 'sustainability' were identified. Self-efficacy influenced the women's readiness and motivation to be discharged home early and played a role in how some of the mothers overcame breastfeeding challenges. Social, semi-professional and professional breastfeeding supports were key in women's experiences. Sustainability referred to and describes what women valued in relation to continuation of their breastfeeding journey. Conclusion: This study found accessible people-based breastfeeding services in the community are valued following early discharge. Furthermore, there is demand for more evidence-based breastfeeding educational resources, potentially in the form of interactive applications or websites. Additionally, a focus on holistic and individualised breastfeeding assessment and care plans prior to discharge that link women with ongoing breastfeeding services is paramount. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: For optimal growth and development, the World Health Organization recommends that children be exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months of life. However, according to the nationally-representative 2013-2014 Demographic and Health Survey, under 50% of babies in the Democratic Republic of Congo are exclusively breastfed. Although breastfeeding was common in the capital city of Kinshasa, one in five newborns received alternatives to breastmilk during the first 3 days of life. This analysis aimed to identify social norms influencing exclusive breastfeeding, the role of a young first-time mother's (FTM's) social network for her choice to exclusively breastfeed, and perceived social sanctions associated with breastfeeding practices in Kinshasa.Methods: The qualitative analysis was based on a vignette presented during 14 focus group discussions, with a purposively selected sample (n = 162) of FTMs age 15-24, and the male partners, mothers and mothers-in-law of FTMs age 15-24 in three health zones in Kinshasa in 2017. Thematic content analysis was performed to identify concepts and patterns in the participants' discussions.Results: Overall, community norms were not supportive of exclusive breastfeeding. The main barriers to exclusive breastfeeding were the belief held by most FTMs that exclusive breastfeeding was an uncommon practice; the desire to avoid negative sanctions such as name-calling and mockery for refusal to give babies water in the first 6 months of life; the desire to please key members of their social networks, specifically their mothers and friends, by doing what these influencers expected or preferred them to do; FTMs' own lack of experience with infant feeding; and trust placed in their mothers and friends.Conclusion: Social norms can be maintained by the belief about what others do, perceived expectations about what individuals ought to do, the negative sanctions they can face and their preference to conform to social expectations. Thus, addressing cultural beliefs and targeting sensitization efforts to key influencers that provide support to FTMs are needed to promote exclusive breastfeeding in Kinshasa. In doing so, strategies should address the barriers to exclusive breastfeeding including related misconceptions, and improve FTMs' self-efficacy to overcome the influence of others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]