Healthy Maternal Ambivalence

Raphael‐Leff, Joan

doi:10.16995/sim.97

Cited by 40 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…This result is in line with previous studies that have analysed the motivations and reasons of women who search for a child after an oncological illness and the psychological impact of the illness in the transition to motherhood (Braun et al, ; Crawshaw & Sloper, ; Ives et al, ). These studies have observed that, as the experience of cancer elicits thoughts of loss and death, strong emotions are activated and these can be intensified during pregnancy, an already emotional developmental phase for women (Attrill, ; Raphael‐Leff, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In Western cultures, pregnant women start to think about themselves as a 'mother' and, consequently, this activates their caregiving system (Bornstein, 2002). During pregnancy, the mother-to-be needs to reorganise her identity to incorporate mental representations of the self as a mother and of the childto-be (Raphael-Leff, 2010;Slade, Cohen, Sadler, & Miller, 2009). In the light of these considerations, it becomes relevant to study the transition to motherhood and the associated psychological dynamics, starting from pregnancy, to identify possible risk factors, which could interfere with the postnatal caregiving system, especially in those situations that may potentially threaten the development of maternal representations (Ammaniti, Tambelli, & Odorisio, 2013;van Bussel, Spitz, & Demyttenaere, 2009).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Motherhood during or after breast cancer diagnosis: A qualitative study

et al. 2020

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Objective Little is known about the process of becoming a mother in women who experienced a breast cancer diagnosis (BC). In this qualitative study, we investigated maternal representations in pregnant women with experience of BC and those with no oncological history. Methods A total of 38 women were recruited, 19 women who experienced a BC diagnosis and 19 who had not. To explore maternal representations, semi‐structured interviews were conducted and analysed through thematic analysis. Results Four main themes were identified: fears and worries, meaning of motherhood, mother–foetus relationship and partner support. Across themes, differences between primiparous and multiparous are reported. Women with gestational breast cancer (GBC) described fear for their own and their child's survival. Women with previous BC recall contrasting emotions. All women with experience of BC perceived breastfeeding as fundamental and inability to do so provoked worry. Relationship with the partner was considered central, while healthy women were projected towards the future triadic relationship. Conclusions Finding a mental space during pregnancy for the representation of the future child could be hard for women with GBC. Dissimilarities in the experience of motherhood in cancer patients provide insight into psychological aspects that should be taken into account in clinical practice.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

Motherhood during or after breast cancer diagnosis: A qualitative study

et al. 2020

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“…Women with childbirth related fear are afraid of inadequate support, inability to contribute to important decisions concerning themselves or their baby, losing control and ‘performing’ badly [24-28,31,46,47]. These characteristics again show similarities with Raphael-Leff‘s ‘regulator’ group who see vaginal birth as a potentially humiliating experience [35]. …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The influence of women’s fear, attitudes and beliefs of childbirth on mode and experience of birth

Haines

Rubertsson

Pallant

et al. 2012

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth

182

141

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BackgroundWomen’s fears and attitudes to childbirth may influence the maternity care they receive and the outcomes of birth. This study aimed to develop profiles of women according to their attitudes regarding birth and their levels of childbirth related fear. The association of these profiles with mode and outcomes of birth was explored.MethodsProspective longitudinal cohort design with self report questionnaires containing a set of attitudinal statements regarding birth (Birth Attitudes Profile Scale) and a fear of birth scale (FOBS). Pregnant women responded at 18-20 weeks gestation and two months after birth from a regional area of Sweden (n = 386) and a regional area of Australia (n = 123). Cluster analysis was used to identify a set of profiles. Odds ratios (95% CI) were calculated, comparing cluster membership for country of care, pregnancy characteristics, birth experience and outcomes.ResultsThree clusters were identified – ‘Self determiners’ (clear attitudes about birth including seeing it as a natural process and no childbirth fear), ‘Take it as it comes’ (no fear of birth and low levels of agreement with any of the attitude statements) and ‘Fearful’ (afraid of birth, with concerns for the personal impact of birth including pain and control, safety concerns and low levels of agreement with attitudes relating to women’s freedom of choice or birth as a natural process). At 18 -20 weeks gestation, when compared to the ‘Self determiners’, women in the ‘Fearful’ cluster were more likely to: prefer a caesarean (OR = 3.3 CI: 1.6-6.8), hold less than positive feelings about being pregnant (OR = 3.6 CI: 1.4-9.0), report less than positive feelings about the approaching birth (OR = 7.2 CI: 4.4-12.0) and less than positive feelings about the first weeks with a newborn (OR = 2.0 CI 1.2-3.6). At two months post partum the ‘Fearful’ cluster had a greater likelihood of having had an elective caesarean (OR = 5.4 CI 2.1-14.2); they were more likely to have had an epidural if they laboured (OR = 1.9 CI 1.1-3.2) and to experience their labour pain as more intense than women in the other clusters. The ‘Fearful’ cluster were more likely to report a negative experience of birth (OR = 1.7 CI 1.02- 2.9). The ‘Take it as it comes’ cluster had a higher likelihood of an elective caesarean (OR 3.0 CI 1.1-8.0).ConclusionsIn this study three clusters of women were identified. Belonging to the ‘Fearful’ cluster had a negative effect on women’s emotional health during pregnancy and increased the likelihood of a negative birth experience. Both women in the ‘Take it as it comes’ and the ‘Fearful’ cluster had higher odds of having an elective caesarean compared to women in the ‘Self determiners’. Understanding women’s attitudes and level of fear may help midwives and doctors to tailor their interactions with women.

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“…Feminist theorists began to query the romanticised version of self-effacing motherhood (8). The painful maternal experiences of ambivalence have remained under-explored.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Invisible women in reproductive technologies: Critical reflections

Mitra¹

2018

IJME

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Healthy Maternal Ambivalence

Cited by 40 publications

References 28 publications

Motherhood during or after breast cancer diagnosis: A qualitative study

Motherhood during or after breast cancer diagnosis: A qualitative study

The influence of women’s fear, attitudes and beliefs of childbirth on mode and experience of birth

Invisible women in reproductive technologies: Critical reflections

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