Maternal attachment in primiparas

From distance toward proximity: fathers lived experience of caring for their preterm infants

Open interviews with 13 fathers were performed, using a hermeneutic phenomenological method, to illuminate their lived experience of caring for their preterm infant. Their lived experience was expressed as a process moving from initial feelings of distance toward feelings of proximity. The process was described as a pendulum that was easily disturbed. Feelings of distance included experiences of living beside reality, becoming an outsider, and living with worry. Feelings of proximity included experiences of returning to reality, becoming a family, and facing the future. Illumination of the father-infant interaction adds to the family-centered body of knowledge in neonatal nursing.

“Doing It Properly”: The Experience of First Mothering Over 35 Years

First mothering over 35 years is an increasing phenomenon in developed countries, and this "greying" of maternity raises some interesting questions and dilemmas for clinical care. In a qualitative study conducted in Melbourne, Australia, the motherhood experiences of 22 primiparous women were explored. Participant age ranged from 35 to 48 years. Women were interviewed over three junctures: at 35-38 weeks gestation, 10-14 days postpartum, and 8 months postpartum. Becoming a mother was found to occur in a temporally ordered sequence, with clear markers at 1-4 weeks, 1-4 months, 4-6 months, and 6-8 months. Themes that emerged from the analysis included the project "doing it properly," vulnerability, "finding my own way," and "being older." The continuing and increasing trend of primiparity older than 35 years makes this account of interest globally. Findings from this study offer an alternative explanation of early mothering over 35 years and offers direction to health professionals for easing early motherhood experiences for this growing group of childbearing women.

A concept analysis of parent-infant attachment

A concept analysis, the clarification of a concept, is the first step towards building the foundations of nursing theory, research and practice. As a relevant concept for nurses working with childbearing families, parent-infant attachment is an important part of the body of nursing knowledge. Wilson's method of concept analysis was used to generate antecedents, critical attributes and consequences of parent-infant attachment, highlighting the need to refine measurements of this concept.

"Becoming a mother'--developing a new theory of early motherhood

This paper explains the methods used in a grounded theory analysis of the experience of 55 first-time mothers in Australia, presented in the first of this series of two papers. The categories identified in the research are realising, readiness, drained, aloneness, loss and working it out, encompassed in the core category becoming a mother. Specifically, this paper extends the analysis and explains the application of a 'paradigm model' and the identification of a Basic Social Process (BSP). The paper links the analysis to the literature on early motherhood from nursing, midwifery, feminist, and sociological research. A substantive theory is proposed to explain women's experience in becoming mothers that demonstrates how, when responsive to the needs of those researched, a grounded theory analysis can provide a framework for nursing and midwifery care.

The father-infant relationship: becoming connected

PURPOSE

To explore fathers' experiences of developing a relationship with their infants during the infant's first 2 months of life

DESIGN

Grounded theory approach

SETTING

Fathers' homes or other mutually agreed-upon site

PARTICIPANTS

First-time fathers (N = 14), ages 28-44, Caucasian, middle class

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Tape-recorded semistructured interviews to elicit fathers' perceptions of their fathering selves, their infants, and the father-infant relationship.

RESULTS

Using constant comparative method for analysis, three major categories were identified as operative in the initial development of the father-infant relationship: (a) making a commitment, (b) becoming connected, and (c) making room for the baby

CONCLUSIONS

With an increased understanding of the father-infant relationship, nurses can provide humanistic, thoughtful care to assist fathers in developing this significant relationship.

Major influences on maternal responsiveness to infants

Thirty healthy, middle-class mothers were interviewed during their postpartum hospital stay to identify major influences on mothers' responses to their infants. Sullivan's theorem of tenderness served as a guide for exploring maternal responsiveness. Three major categories, infant tenderness needs, maternal perception, and maternal needs, and their related properties, were described. Support persons were viewed as very important. Mothers also believed that some infant needs were more important than others. Finally, mothers felt that they were constantly faced with priorities, and that the emotional state of the mother and infant often influenced their interaction.

A conceptual framework of bonding

Nurses involved in maternal-infant child care should objectively analyze any tools that purport to measure attachment and/or bonding. Has the author adequately defined the terms? Are directions given for making concepts operational for the practicing nurse? What are the foundations for placing values on parental behaviors? Do deviant parental behaviors reflect poor attachment or bonding, or are such behaviors merely indicative of limited parental opportunities for acquaintance? The presentation of of any conceptual framework should not be considered complete without empirical testing. Such testing and peer critique of a framework are essential fro any theory of bonding to evolve. With further research into the parental-child relationship, nurses can learn to provide adequate care for facilitating the bonding process in families.