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Cited by 114Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and PostpartumWork-Family Balance ChallengesMaternal and Neonatal Healthcare

The Role of Maternal Self-Care in New Motherhood

Open access
Barkin, Jennifer L., Wisner, Katherine L.·2013·Midwifery
DOI 10.1016/j.midw.2012.10.001PMC PMC7081756
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Abstract

Objective To examine the following: (1) women's perceptions regarding the role of maternal self-care, (2) specific applications of self-care in new motherhood and (3) barriers to practising effective self-care.Design three focus groups were conducted in order to study women's perspectives regarding the key components of new motherhood.Setting Recruitment took place in Allegheny County, surrounding Pittsburgh. The focus groups were held at the University of Pittsburgh's Medical School.Participants Thirty-one adult women who had given birth in the year prior to enrollment participated in the study.Methods The focus group conversations were recorded and transcribed for purposes of qualitative analysis. Conversation related to maternal self-care, which was identified as a component of new motherhood, was grouped into one of three categories: (1) women's valuations of self-care, (2) effective applications of self-care and (3) barriers to good self-care practice.Findings Two ideologies regarding the role of self-care emerged. In one conception of effective mothering, self-care was of primary importance. On the contrary, some women associated a sometimes extreme form of self-sacrifice with new motherhood. Effective applications of self-care included taking time to exercise, allowing the infant's father to care for the child for a period of time and going out to restaurants. Barriers to good self-care practice were time, other limited resources such as money and social support and difficulty accepting help and setting boundaries.Key conclusions Additional focus groups should be conducted with the purpose of studying maternal self-care exclusively. This work is an important first step in identifying ways to help new mothers better care for themselves.

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  • This complex emotional experience coupled with family, societal, and cultural pressures can influence women's functioning, leading to problems such as prioritizing child and family needs above their own self-care, values, and identity.

    “This complex emotional experience coupled with family, societal, and cultural pressures can influence women’s functioning, leading to problems such as prioritizing child and family needs above their own self-care, values, and identity [13].”

    From Motherhood and Me (Mom-Me): The Development of an Acceptance-Based Group for Women with Postpartum Mood and Anxiety Symptoms (2022) · cites this paper as [13]

    The Discussion (page unavailable) reports that some mothers associated selflessness with good parenting and struggled to balance infant care with their own physical and emotional needs. The Introduction (page unavailable) discusses social and cultural expectations and maternal functioning. The paper does not establish that those pressures caused women to put aside their values or identity. (LLM, conf=0.84)

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Authors
Barkin, J. L., & Wisner, K. L.
Affiliations
  • Mercer University (US)
  • Northwestern University (US)
Corresponding author
Barkin, Jennifer L.
ORCID
Venue
Midwifery
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2013-09
Volume
29
Issue
9
Pages
1050-1055
ISSN
0266-6138 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.midw.2012.10.001
PMC
PMC7081756
OpenAlex
W2082761229
Cited by
114
References
40
Citations by year
2026: 11 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 1
FWCI
6.12
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Midwifery (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH060335)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Work-Family Balance Challenges
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Maternal and Neonatal Healthcare
Keywords
maternal self-care, new motherhood, postpartum women, women's perceptions, barriers to self-care, self-sacrifice, social support, time constraints, help-seeking, boundary setting, physical activity, father involvement
MeSH terms
Adult, Family Relations, Female, Health Education, Humans, Male, Paternal Behavior, Self Care, Social Support, Socioeconomic Factors, United States, Women's Health, Focus Groups, Qualitative Research, Postpartum Period

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