Postnatal disorder is a type of mood disorder associated with childbirth that can affect both sexes. The postnatal disorder is more likely towards mothers than fathers but it does not mean the father is not affected at all. Postnatal depression is usually affected by new fathers because they will feel stress becoming a new role as the head of the family (Coyne, 2019, October 10). The stress comes when they need to do something unusual like they need to have extra finances for their child, they need to take care of their baby at midnight and many more and it can lead to depression regarding the unusual. In contrast, every mother will experience postnatal depression after giving birth (NHS, 2017, October 23) but it depends on the person itself whether they already have a history of depression or not. This is because someone who has depression will have a high tendency to have postnatal depression.
Postnatal disorder can be divided into 3 stages which are baby blues, postpartum depression, and postpartum psychosis. The meaning of baby blues is a transient postpartum mood disorder characterized by milder depressive symptoms than postpartum depression. About 70% to 80% of all new mothers will experience baby blues with some negative feelings or mood swings after giving birth (‘Baby Blues: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment,’ 2019, October 14). Usually, the mother will suffer from baby blues disorder within 3 days until a week after childbirth. The causes of the baby blues phase are unclear at this time because they only can be detected when they have hormone changes. These hormonal changes can lead to chemical changes in the brain which will turn to depression (‘Baby Blues: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment,’ 2019, October 14).
The second stage of postnatal disorder is postpartum depression which can be defined as if your symptoms from baby blues do not fade away after a few weeks or the symptoms are getting worse (Smith, 2019, November 5). Postpartum depression in the beginning will look normally like baby blues disorder. Postpartum depression and baby blues have the same symptoms but to differentiate, postpartum depression’s symptoms are more detailed such as suicidal thoughts or an inability to care for your baby, and this disorder is longer lasting (Smith, 2019, November 5). Those who have experienced baby blues have a high chance of getting postpartum depression.
The last stage of postnatal disorder is postpartum psychosis. Postpartum psychosis rarely happens but it is an extremely serious disorder that can develop after childbirth and it is characterized by a loss of contact with reality (Smith, 2019, November 5). Postpartum psychosis is different from baby blues and postpartum depression because it has a high risk for suicide or infanticide (Smith, 2019, November 5). Normally, new mothers have a low tendency to diagnose postpartum psychosis because this disorder will happen to someone who has an episode of postpartum depression due to previous pregnancies.
“Improving clinicians’ understanding of effects nutrition can have on maternal health and fetal and neonatal development can have a considerable impact on achieving a healthy pregnancy and reducing childhood morbidity” (Symonds and Ramsay 3). It is the statement from the book Maternal-Fetal Nutrition During Pregnancy and Lactation by Symonds and Ramsay that reflects the authors’ main idea. This book is very useful for people who are somehow connected with pregnancy such as mothers, doctors, nurses, and others. In the book, the authors are concentrated on demonstrating that nutrition during pregnancy and lactation is extremely important with the focus on nutritional requirements, the physiology and phycology of pregnancy, and factors that affect the nutrition during pregnancy and lactation.
The book is divided into three sections. The first section refers to nutritional regulation and requirements for pregnancy and fetal growth. The second section is aimed at describing nutritional requirements for lactation and infant growth. The third section is called Specialized requirements, and it is devoted to such topics as teenage pregnancies, vegetarianism during pregnancy and lactation, and multiple pregnancies.
It can be said that the authors present the essence of main topics. For instance, Symonds and Ramsay state that nutrition is important even in the early stages of pregnancy, and they support this idea describing the process of the placenta formation and emphasizing the key role of nutrition during this process (4). In their book, Davies and Deery pay a lot of attention to micronutrients and macronutrients (33). Symonds and Ramsay also investigate this topic and underline that micronutrients and macronutrients contribute to supporting mother’s vital activity and the development and growth of her baby (48). As it is described by the Healthline, “micronutrients are dietary components, such as vitamins and minerals, which are only required by the body in small amounts; macronutrients, on the other hand, are nutrients that provide calories or energy” (“Nutritional needs during pregnancy” par. 2). In the first section, Symonds and Ramsay support this definition and describe main macronutrients that should be included in a woman’s daily diet such as protein (for the proper growth of fetal tissue), calcium (for building fetal bones), iron (to supply enough oxygen to the fetus), folate (to reduce the risk of neural tube defects), and others (56).
It goes without saying that the authors follow their strategy to remark on the effects that nutrition have on maternal health and fetal. They analyze gathered information and make connections between the nutritional requirements and different stages of fetal development and growth. It is worth mentioning that the authors fulfill the following task and success with their objectives in the book. In the second section of their book, the authors consider breastfeeding and highlight key factors related to it. A lot of authors such as Aune et al, Kornides and Kitsantas, Victora et al argue that breastfeeding protects children from many diseases, and Symonds and Ramsay agree with them (67). Besides, in the last section of the book, Symonds and Ramsay analyze and pay a lot of attention to some specific problems that occur during pregnancy.
To sum up, in the book Maternal-Fetal Nutrition During Pregnancy and Lactation, the authors illustrate the idea of the connection between nutrition and pregnancy. They accentuate the idea of the importance of nutrition during pregnancy and lactation. This book is an excellent guideline for doctors, health-care workers, scientists, and pregnant women. The authors fulfill the following task and reveal why nutrition plays a vital role in the development and growth of the fetus.
Works Cited
Aune, Dagfinn, et al. “Breastfeeding and the Maternal Risk of Type Two Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Dose–Response Meta-Analysis of Cohort Studies.” Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases, vol. 24, no. 2, 2014, pp. 107-115.
Davies, Lorna, and Ruth Deery. Nutrition in Pregnancy and Childbirth: Food for Thought. Routledge, 2013.
Kornides, Melanie, and Panagiota Kitsantas. “Evaluation of Breastfeeding Promotion, Support, and Knowledge of Benefits on Breastfeeding Outcomes.” Journal of Child Health Care, vol. 17, no. 3, 2013, pp. 264-273.
Symonds, Michael E., and Margaret M. Ramsay. Maternal-Fetal Nutrition during Pregnancy and Lactation. Cambridge University Press, 2010.
Victora, Cesar, et al. “Breastfeeding in the 21st Century: Epidemiology, Mechanisms, and Lifelong Effect.” The Lancet, vol. 387, no. 10017, 2016, pp. 475-490.
The technological advancement and expansion of biomedical knowledge may assist pregnant women in delivery and may help them avoid multiple birth complications. The medical and obstetric assistance are especially important when a woman’s health condition is unsatisfactory, and there are fewer chances for the positive pregnancy outcomes. However, many women in the USA prefer natural childbirth which implies minimum obstetric and medical assistance.
The choice of a particular birth option can be influenced by the cultural and social backgrounds of a woman, the availability of support resources, and potential health risks. The choice of an appropriate childbirth option is important because it can help to prevent birth complications that may threaten the psychological and physical well-being of a pregnant woman and affect infant development in a negative way.
Hospital birth is a common option for labor and delivery. Traditional hospital birth is associated with medical support and professional supervision during the gestation period. Many hospitals in the USA provide prenatal care practices such as parenting and childbirth training which help women to reduce stress and to feel more secure. Although hospital birthing is commonly perceived in close relation to medical interference and regarded as “unnatural,” many US medical settings give women an opportunity to have more “natural” delivery without medication yet with the assistance of a midwife (Miller & Shriver, 2012).
However, in the emergency situations, technological and obstetric interventions are needed for the maintenance of maternal health and infant survival. Nowadays, about 26% of births in the USA were supported by the surgical interference, and the researchers consider that many of such deliveries were unrelated to the factors of maternal health and child’s survival (Crossley, 2007).
It is observed that the rates of caesarean deliveries have risen dramatically in a few decades, and it is considered that women may prefer medicated hospital childbirth because it is commonly associated with a high level of professional expertise and less painful experience (Miller & Shriver, 2012).
The natural home births became very popular. Many women prefer to reduce medical control and management in labor and delivery. Natural delivery often takes place at home among the family members, and because of the comfortable conditions and psychological support the woman may feel less stressed. Natural home childbirth is often idealized and regarded as the best option, but the lack of pregnancy monitoring may provoke adverse outcomes and birth complications. Therefore, at least a small amount of obstetric supervision is still important to ensure the positive pregnancy outcomes.
Factors of Childbirth Decisions
There are close interrelations between cultural contexts, social organization and influences, personal values and the selection of childbirth options. For example, it is observed that natural unassisted homebirth can be largely influenced by the “religion-centered lifestyle” (Miller & Shriver, 2012, p. 713). Natural delivery and mothering are also frequently preferred by the women who are attached to family and are primarily child-oriented.
At the same time, the women who prefer hospital childbirth associate the availability of midwives and the presence of physicians during delivery with safety (Miller & Shriver, 2012). It this way, cultural contexts, as well as the personal values and beliefs, play a decisive role in childbirth decision making. However, it is possible to say that the role of personal values and preferences in childbirth decision making is significant in case many options are available for a woman, and she does not have any strict financial or social constraints in following the personal interests.
The choice of the childbirth option can be motivated by the socioeconomic position of a pregnant woman. The costs of deliveries in the US hospitals may exceed $6000 (Miller & Shriver, 2012). The preparation training practices, prenatal care and monitoring, courses and other pregnancy management activities may become unavailable for many women from poor families who do not have medical insurance.
In some cases the assisted homebirth may be more expensive than a hospital delivery, and many women who cannot afford to have a homebirth but regard it as an ideal sense of safety are forced to give birth in less comfortable conditions due to the financial situation.
Birth Complications
Although a woman may have no health problems during the pregnancy, the complications during delivery still may arise. For example, the complications may be related to the abnormal position of the fetus in the uterus that may lead to the prolonging of labor, increase of pain and traumatic experience during delivery. The fetal malposition and the consequent prolonged labor often require the surgical intervention, and the severe cases can result in the mother’s morbidity (Senecal, Xiong, & Fraser, 2005). It also increases the risks of the infant morbidity that may include the admission to the neonatal intensive care unit, and multiple traumas.
There is the risk of umbilical cord prolapse and umbilical cord compression as well. Umbilical cord provides the flow of blood to the fetus and its disposition during delivery provokes the emergency situations. Umbilical cord compression decreases the blood flow and may provoke the fetal heart rate drops (Ashington, 2009). The severe consequences of umbilical cord compression are uncommon and they usually require the caesarean section.
Umbilical cord prolapse is also a rare phenomenon, but the respond to this critical situation should be urgent. It occurs when the umbilical cord precedes the baby in the birth canal during the delivery (Maher & Heavey, 2015). When the fetal cord can be felt or seen on the perineum after the rupture of membranes it is defined as the overt prolapse, or when it is not seen but it moves alongside the fetus’ body, it is defined as the occult prolapse (Gabbay-Benziv et al., 2014). Cord prolapse may be spontaneous, or it can be developed as a consequence of the artificial and premature rupture of membranes (Maher & Heavey, 2015).
The frequency of the complication occurrence is low but it may lead to the infant’s death. Cord prolapse decreases the blood flow and leads to the deceleration of the fetal heart rate. The perinatal mortality associated with the cord abnormality is asphyxia, prematurity and low body weight (Gabbay-Benziv et al., 2014). The prolonged umbilical cord prolapse increases the chances of negative outcomes in both preterm and term deliveries. Thus, the quick medical respond to the emergency situation is a necessity.
The prolonged umbilical cord prolapse can result in the development of physical abnormalities in the infant. It is reported that about 15% of all neonates influenced by the prolapsed cord during delivery were referred to the intensive care units due to respiratory problems, such as transient tachypnea or respiratory distress syndrome, or hypoxic brain injury (Gabbay-Benziv et al., 2014). The fetal hypoxic brain injury caused by the reduction of blood flow influences the development of brain structure in a negative way and, as a result, the infant’s cognitive and motor development can be delayed (Macnab, 2012).
The intervention of cognitive and sensorimotor deficits should include the stimulation of the neurocognitive mechanisms in a child. The caregivers need to communicate and actively interact with the infant and create a favourable sociocultural and physical environment to facilitate the sound neonatal development.
The cord abnormality does not usually have a severe physiological negative impact on mother, and the physical distress can be caused only by the medical interventions. However, the critical health condition of a newborn child may create a significant psychological burden for the mother and her family. The post-delivery intervention that may include the admission to the intensive care unit does not guarantee the positive outcomes and implies large financial costs, and it thus can be unaffordable for the low-income families. Based on this, it is recommended to take the preliminary measures to ensure the medical intervention in case of emergency will be rapid.
The factors increasing the risk of cord prolapse include the fetal malpresentation, multiple pregnancy, congenital abnormalities, or prematurity (Maher & Heavey, 2015). These factors can be identified through prenatal screening. The early identification of risk factors allows the physicians and parents to make necessary preparations for a quick intervention. It is recommended for a woman who is at risk of umbilical cord prolapse to choose the supervised hospital as a childbirth option and increase medical control during labor.
The level of medical staff skilfulness and technological advancement in the setting is significant as well. The opportunity to communicate about the medical decisions and procedures included in the labor management can be an important factor for a woman because it can increase her confidence in the positive delivery outcome and develop the sense of safety.
The Role of Culture in Family and Birthing Decisions
Depending on the culture, the decisions individuals make about birthing and family can vary significantly. For example, Brazil is the country where the rate of cesarean sections comprises forty percent; furthermore, if to analyze private hospitals, the rate can even be higher than forty percent. This occurs due to the fact that the majority of women that give birth in private clinics come from high, and middle class thus can afford the procedure.
On the contrary, in Japan, there is a prevailing paternalistic pattern of approach towards childbirth – when the doctor makes all the decisions concerning the health of the mother and the fetus. Such an approach is used in countries like Australia only in specific emergency situations when there is little time for deliberations. Women in labor hospitalization in Ethiopia is acceptable if the cervical opening is more than three centimeters.
If the cervical opening is smaller than three centimeters, a woman is sent home until she surpasses the requirement. Another interesting differentiation in cultural decisions about childbirth can be found in India where it is illegal to determine the sex of the fetus during the prenatal screening tests (Queensland Health Multicultural Services, 2014).
On the other hand, some cultures, especially countries that practice Islam, resort to female genital mutilation (FGM) that has a long-term effect on the health of women and their pregnancy. FGM is usually conducted in childhood to preserve the culture heritage of a particular nation, a supposed initiation into womanhood, or other non-surgical reasons. FGM makes the pelvic examinations during pregnancy almost impossible, create a risk for the mother and the fetus without an opened birth canal, complicate the monitoring of the fetal distress.
Thus, the ability or inability of women to make decisions about family and childbirth are deeply rooted in cultural beliefs and traditions, no matter how specific or inexplicable they may be.
References
Ashington, G. (2009). Umbilical cord anomalies. Ultrasound, 17(2), 106-108.
Crossley, M. L. (2007). Childbirth, complications and the illusion of choice’: A case study. Feminism & Psychology, 17(4), 543-563. Web.
Gabbay-Benziv, R., Maman, M., Wiznitzer, A., Linder, N., & Yogev, Y. (2014). Umbilical cord prolapse during delivery – risk factors and pregnancy outcome: A single center experience. Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine, 27(1), 14-17. Web.
Maher, M. D., & Heavey, E. (2015). When the cord comes first. Nursing, 45(7), 53-56. Web.
Miller, A. C., & Shriver, T. E. (2012). Women’s childbirth preferences and practices in the United States. Social Science & Medicine, 75(4), 709-716. Web.
Queensland Health Multicultural Services. (2014). Cultural dimensions of pregnancy, birth and post-natal care. Web.
Senecal, J., Xiong, X., & Fraser, W. D. (2005). Effect of fetal position on second-stage duration and labor outcome. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 105(4), 763-772. Web.
Child labor is divided into three major stages. The process of labor takes place after some stage of pregnancy. The baby is usually in the uterus for nine months. When the labor begins it is the time that the baby is ready to be welcomed into the world. There are some physical changes that the body undergoes and this is the design that brings the baby into the world. Labor starts when one experiences backaches, abdominal pains, and cramping. Some contractions take place during labor. The contractions are relaxing and tightening of the muscles that are found in the uterus and it is to prepare for the process of childbirth. (Kahan, 8).
Description of Child labor
The first stage of labor is contractions and dilating. This is the start of labor that is true to the dilation of the cervix. This stage is further divided into three other phrases that are namely Latent, Transition, and Active. In latent labor one experiences contractions that are mild and are usually apart from five to thirty minutes. What is experienced during this phase is backache, excitement, and diarrhea that is mild. Most women usually walk around, given back massages, and shower at times. Active labor is the second phase of the first stage and there is more dilation that is rapid. The cervix begins to open up. This is the time that the baby is positioning itself to be born. The women experience stronger contractions and they are very long.
The transition phrase is the last in the first stage of labor. Contractions are more intense and the cervix is fully dilated by this stage. The baby starts to apply pressure to the bottom area of the mother. The second stage of the labor process is child delivery. There is a lot of pressure on the mother’s bottom area and this gives her the urge to push the baby out of the womb. This is usually very difficult to do but what saves the mothers is the rest that comes between the contractions. (Marion, 19).
The rest is important as they save the mother by giving her the strength to push the baby out of the womb. There is a second wind that the women get to help them with the process of delivering. There are three phases of the second stage of delivery. One is the resting phase. This normally takes place after dilation of 10cm. The other phase that takes place is descent. These are the contractions that take place between three to five minutes apart for 60 seconds. They are very strong and it is in this phase that the head of the baby descends. The last phase is crowning and this is the stage that the baby opens up the vagina and there are no contractions that take place. It is experienced by stretching and burning.
The last stage of delivering is the placenta. It normally occurs at the time between the time that the baby is delivered and the time the placenta is delivered. Some uterine contractions take place and this helps the placenta to be expelled. It takes place within the first twenty minutes from when the child is born. This is usually experienced by bleeding and exhaustion. This stage is managed by expectancy. This allows the expulsion to be done without having to resist medicine (Kahan, 28).
Works Cited
Howard, Marion. ONLY HUMAN: Teenage pregnancy and motherhood. Avon New York, 1979. p23-49.
Kahan, Stuart. The Expectant Father’s Survival Kit. Sovereign Books, New York. 1979. 2-77.
The title of the article is incomplete; it tells the reader the key phenomenon covered in the article i.e. childbirth trauma and its effect on breastfeeding. According to Polit and Beck (2006) a good qualitative research article title should describe the phenomenon and a group or community. However, this study does not specify the study population. Thus, the title is not complete as information about study population is lacking.
Abstract
The article summarizes the study’s background, aim, methods, results, and conclusion. An abstract should describe, in concise terms, the various aspects covered in the article (Polit& Beck, 2006). From the abstract, the reader gets an idea of the study’s purpose and content areas, the study design, results obtained (major themes) and conclusions. The abstract also maintains the characteristics of the study subjects and the data analysis approach used. The abstract identifies the key words contained in the body of the article but does not define them.
Introduction
Statement of the Problem
In the article, the problem statement is clearly and easily identifiable by the reader. Many organizations have implemented interventions to overcome “barriers to successful breastfeeding, but not one of these interventions addresses the impact of traumatic childbirth on breastfeeding” (Beck & Watson, 2008, p.231). Moreover, the problem statement is unambiguous; it explicitly describes the problem (traumatic childbirth) and its impact on breastfeeding.
Persuasive argument for study
The problem statement is also persuasive; using evidence from relevant studies, the authors convincingly argue that traumatic childbirth is a “potential risk factor for delayed lactogenesis” (Beck & Watson, 2008, p. 228). The statement seems persuasive.
Significance to nursing
The problem has significance in nursing; support by nurse midwives can decrease birth trauma, hence address the barriers to breastfeeding. Knowledge on the impact of birth trauma on breastfeeding based on subjective information obtained from mothers has significance to nursing. It will help nurses to give an effective and holistic care to mothers experiencing delayed lactogenesis due to traumatic childbirth.
The researchers also show a clear connection between paradigms and research problem. The authors describe traumatic childbirth (problem) in a broad way and give different birthing practices that cause trauma. The broad description of the term “traumatic childbirth” in this article ensures that the research problem matches with the model (Garrard, 2011). Also, the study’s phenomenological research method matched with the research problem; the researchers collected and analyzed written statements collected from the participants and then identified main themes that described the subjects’ experiences (Beck & Watson). The themes represented the participants’ views on the research problem.
Research Question
In the study, the research question is clear: “What is the essence of women’s breast-feeding experiences after a traumatic childbirth?” (Beck & Watson, 2008, p.233) In this research question, the various aspects of the research problem are explicit and consistent with the study’s conceptual framework. The researchers set out a clear and focused conceptual framework on the risk factors of birth trauma and how this impacts breastfeeding. They derive the research question from this conceptual framework.
Literature Review
Adequacy of summary of existing body of knowledge
The authors included enough sources in the literature review section. They included 15 major articles (peer-reviewed) and one report with relevant content on the topic. Primary sources are important sources of information for research (Rolfe, 2006); they are reliable, original and have a small time gap. The researchers summarized key concepts and theories from the literature review.Based on past studies, the researchers define birth trauma, describe global perspectives and risk factors for birth trauma and discuss birthing practices that affect breastfeeding.
Justification for the study
The researchers identify gaps in literature that needs to be explored.. Also, by describing the various concepts and theories, they refine and clarify the study’s perspective. According to Polit and Beck (2006, p.122) a good literature review should clearly and concisely analyze earlier studies on the topic and connect it to the present research. They state that past studies mainly focus on physiological measures associated with breastfeeding. This forms the basis for conducting this study. The researchers state that a gap in the literature exists and thus “this qualitative study examined the mother’s descriptions of how their traumatic childbirth affected their breastfeeding” (Beck & Watson, 2008, p.229). They explore this perspective to gain new insights into this topic.
Conceptual Framework
Description of Key Concepts
The researchers give definition for each concept identified in the study. They describe birth trauma, traumatic symptoms and risk factors associated with childbirth, and birthing practices that cause trauma. The epistemological tradition employed is clear. The researchers use phenomenology, which is right for examining life experiences and how they affect the participants (Polit& Beck, 2006). This approach enabled the researchers to describe the relationship between traumatic birth and unsuccessful breastfeeding.
Method
Protection of Human Rights
Institutional review boards (IRBs) approve projects involving human subjects. The study involved an “internet sample consisting of 52 mothers” (Beck & Watson, 2008, p. 230) who had experienced physical or emotional trauma or both during childbirth. The researchers selected eligible subjects based on specific inclusion criteria. The project gained the approval of the university’s IRB before commencement. This protected the participants’ rights or welfare particularly the right to privacy (confidentiality) and anonymity. There is no mention of whether or not the project gained approval from an external entity to assess its procedures and methodologies.
Minimum risk/ Maximum benefit
For a project to gain IRB’s approval its benefits must outweigh the risks. The researchers first informed the participants of the study via a post on Trauma and Birth Stress (TABS) website, and before seeking an informed consent (a story on childbirth experience). Through informed consent, the researchers were able to decreased emotional risks. Furthermore, the communications between the researcher and the participants was also confidential to avoid psychological risks associated with their birth trauma. The study’s design had many benefits to the participants; it helped them understand how the traumatic birth experience may impede breastfeeding. Its purpose was to give support to mothers who experienced traumatic childbirth and educate the public on post-traumatic stress disorder caused by childbirth trauma (Beck & Watson, 2008, p. 228). Thus; the study’s benefits outweighed the risks.
Research Design and Tradition
The research tradition of phenomenology is consistent with the data collection (semi-structured interviews) and data analysis (qualitative data analysis) methods used. This tradition examines people’s experiences for common themes that can describe shared experiences (Polit& Beck, 2006). Qualitative data analysis helps create themes that describe the participants’ subjective experiences. The researchers allowed adequate time for data collection.The researchers used Trauma and Birth Stress (TABS) website to collect data from participants for 11months, with an average of 13,264 mails (responses) per month. This duration was enough to meet saturation and rigor.
Evidence of evolvement of design in field
There is no evidence that the design unfolded during data collection. The categories and themes emerged during the qualitative data analysis, so the researchers could not capitalize on their knowledge on the topic. The researchers made enough contacts with the participants. After sending their stories via email, the researchers sent “follow-up emails to the participants to seek for clarification or ask for more details” (Beck & Watson, 2008, p. 235). Thus, the researchers made adequate contacts with participants, which ensured scientific rigor.
Sample and Setting
Adequacy of description of population and setting
The researchers adequately described the sample (52 mothers), characteristics of the participants and the setting. They tabulate the obstetrics and demographic characteristics of the participants, which provides a clear picture of the scope of the study.
The approach used to recruit participants was right. The researchers first sought IRB’s permission and then posted a recruitment notice on TABS website. Responses (emails) served as informed consent. Thus, the study met the ethical considerations before it started (Polit, & Beck, 2006, p. 85). Moreover, the participants had the right to withdraw at any point in the study or continue with the study.
The researchers used purposive sampling method. The researcher recruited the participants from one specific group (mothers who experienced traumatic childbirth). Thus, the sampling method used was the best method possible as all participants had to belong to this group (Polit& Beck, 2006). Qualitative research requires a convenient sample (not necessarily large) to gain new information on a given phenomenon (Crisp, &Taylor, 2005). Thus, the sample of 52 gave enough information on the topic.
Adequacy of sample size, data saturation
The sample of 52 was enough to meet data saturation. The researchers state that “this number exceeded what was necessary to meet the saturation of data” (Beck & Watson, 2008, p. 234). Also, the researchers allowed enough time for data collection (11 months), which ensured data saturation.
Data Collection
Data collection method
The researchers used an appropriate method to gather data. The email responses (semi-structured interviews) and the duration (11 months) ensured enough duration for data collection. The authors only used this method; thus, the study did not involve triangulation. According to Polit and Beck (2006), triangulation enhances the validity and credibility of a study. This study only employed one method (email interviews) to gather data.
The researchers did not use any specific questions; they relied on stories about the participants’ breastfeeding experiences submitted via email. The researchers answered all questions that respondents raised. The researchers noted that an audit trail of the responses would help later follow-ups for further suggestions from the participants. They recorded the responses in a validated decision trail.
The researchers used a decision trail to collect an in-depth and detailed data from the participants. Of the 52 stories emailed by participants, 249 distinct statements were received, which generated eight main themes (Beck & Watson, 2008, p. 234). The sample size, which was enough for a qualitative study, ensured a rich and detailed data.
Procedures
Appropriateness and description of data collection and recordings
In this article, the authors describe data collection and recording methods very well. The phenomenological approach allowed the “discovery of the essence of the women’s breastfeeding experiences after a traumatic childbirth” (Beck & Watson, 2008, p. 235). This approach appears convenient in this qualitative study.
The first author and second author participated directly in data collection and analysis. They are professionals with adequate training and experience in data collection. Also, the methods section of the article mentions the second author as the one who co-founded TABS. According to Polit and Beck (2006), qualitative research is prone to bias; to minimize bias triangulation methods are important. The failure to use triangulation methods in this study increased researcher bias.
Enhancement of Trustworthiness
Strategies to enhance trustworthiness and integrity of the study
The trustworthiness of the data collected was inadequate. Rolfe (2004) defines trustworthiness as the dependability and credibility of a study, which researchers achieve through triangulation. In this study, there was no use of triangulation methods; triangulation enhances data integrity and trustworthiness by minimizing bias.
Appropriateness of methods to enhance trustworthiness
As mentioned above, the researchers did not use triangulation; they only used one method (email interviews) to collect data. Triangulation methods enhance trustworthiness. In the study, the authors document the methods employed to collect data as well as the decision trail. They recorded the email responses (interviews), which are thus conformable. However, since the interviews did not involve audio-taping, the responses are not adoptable.
Reflexivity
The data collection involved female researchers to gather response via email from mothers who experienced traumatic childbirth. Thus, there is a reflexivity; the possibility that the mothers (participants) identified with the female researcher and felt free to express their experiences as opposed to using a male researcher to collect data. Also, the detailed and elaborate description of data (responses) supports transferability. The authors provide a detailed description of the responses and even include them in the analysis. They describe the methods used to categorize the data into the eight themes.
Results
Data Analysis
Data analysis refers to the process of collecting, summarizing, comparing and grouping data into categories (Crisp, & Taylor, 2005). In this study, the data analysis and management are described in detail and are consistent with qualitative data analysis.
Compatibility of data analysis and research tradition
The authors organized the data into categories to generate eight themes that describe the participants’ childbirth experiences (Beck & Watson, 2008). This approach is consistent with the research tradition, phenomenology, which entails the collection of data (lived experiences), organizing them into categories and identifying common themes. In this study, the qualitative data analysis summarized the data into categories. The authors identified eight themes that described the participants’ experiences. This approach is consistent with phenomenology tradition used in the study.
Presence of bias in analytical procedures
The authors used a validated method (Colaizzi’s (1978) method) for data analysis. This helped to decrease bias. Additionally, the phenomenological approach helped to avoid bias by organizing data into categories.
Findings
Summary of findings with use of excerpts and supportive information
The authors summarized the findings and provided good excerpts to define and explain the meaning of their findings. In any study, the findings relate to the identified themes, with excerpts to support the findings (Polit& Beck, 2006). The authors’ use of excerpts from the participants’ emails helps to support the major themes.
Adequacy of themes to capture the meaning of data
The authors identified eight themes; three themes facilitated breastfeeding while five hindered successful breastfeeding. These themes together with the excerpts from the participants adequately represent the meaning of data. The authors included excerpts and the eight themes obtained from qualitative data analysis. Thus, they were able to get new insights and meanings relating to childbirth trauma (a phenomenon under study). They created a provocative yet clear picture of the problem under study.
Theoretical Integration
In the article, the authors identify eight themes, which they cluster into two groups or clusters (three facilitated breastfeeding while five hampered breastfeeding). Moreover, the use of excerpts from the participants gives a clear picture of how the themes are interlinked.
Figures and Models
In the article, the authors used a table to illustrate the connection between two themes (theme 7 and 3). They also used a “breastfeeding scale” to group the eight themes into two groups and another figure to illustrate the phenomenological methods used in the data analysis. Moreover, the authors link the themes to the conceptual framework. They state that the two clusters of themes represent a range of possible aspects of birth trauma that can impact mothers’ breastfeeding experiences” (Beck & Watson, 2008, p. 229). Thus, they show a link between these themes and the study’s framework.
Discussion
Interpretation of Findings
In this study, the authors discuss the findings within the right context; that is, traumatic childbirth and breastfeeding among mothers. The title mentions the two pathways, which are the two main findings of the study. Also, in the article, the researchers discuss the researchers’ findings and relate them to earlier researches. Thus, the reader can identify aspects of past studies included in the current and understand the implications of the findings.
Interpretations consistency with limitations
The authors identify three limitations of the study, which are derived from the findings. The authors state that the sampling method had some flaws, which may limit the transferability of the findings (Beck & Watson, 2008). Nevertheless, the limitations of this study relate to the findings of the study.
Implications and Recommendations
The researchers give directions for future research; they recommend a further study of the predictors of poor breastfeeding based on traumatic childbirth experiences and psychometric instruments for assessing PTSD in mothers who have experienced traumatic childbirth (Beck & Watson, 2008). This will expand knowledge on birth trauma and its effects.
Global Issues
Presentation
Overall, this article was written and organized well. It described the methods (data collection and analysis) as well as the study’s findings. This article provides enough details and insights into the experiences of mothers during childbirth and how this affects breastfeeding. As mentioned above, the authors describe in detail the methods and findings and provide detailed information on the topic. The findings are interpreted to vividly allow the reader to have a good insight on the topic.
Researcher Credibility
The authors have good credentials and experience in nursing practice. Beck is a professor while Watson is the founder of TBS. Because of these qualifications, the readers can have confidence in the research findings.
Summary Assessment
Perception of trustworthiness of study
The findings presented in the article seem trustworthy. Nevertheless, the use of one data collection method affects the credibility of the findings. However, the use of validated instruments and analysis procedures enhanced the reliability of this study. I have confidence in the study’s findings and believe that they are truthful.
Implications of the study
The findings of this study have implications in nursing. The researchers established that childbirth trauma does affect breastfeeding among mothers. Thus, nurses and other care professionals should develop strategies (holistic care) to support the mothers overcome PSTD associated with traumatic childbirth to promote breastfeeding.
References
Beck, T., & Watson, S. (2008). Impact of Birth Trauma on Breastfeeding: A Tale of Two Pathways. Nursing Research, 57 (4), 228-236.
Crisp, J. & Taylor, C. (2005). Potter & Perry’s Fundamentals of Nursing, 2nd Edition. Marrickville: Elsevier.
Garrard, J. (2011). Health sciences literature review made easy: The matrix method (3rd Ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett.
Polite, D.F., & Beck, C. T. (2012). Nursing research: Generating and Assessing Evidence for Nursing Practice (9th Eqd.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Rolfe, G. (2006).Validity, Trustworthiness and Rigor: Quality and the Idea of Qualitative Research.Journal of Advanced Nursing, 53(3), 305-310.
Maternal health refers to women’s wellbeing when pregnant, during childbirth, and postpartum. Black women in most parts of the world undergo unacceptable poor maternal health results, including disproportionately high death rates (Davis, 2020, p. 56). Health and societal system factors play a significant role in black women’s high maternal mortality rates and poor health outcomes. As a result, these women of color have barriers to receiving competent healthcare services and face racial discrimination. Davis (2020, p. 58) argues that factors such as sexism and racism adversely affect black women’s healthcare outcomes and medical care use. For instance, these women of color are likely to be uninsured, experience significant financial issues with healthcare, and are unlikely to access prenatal care compared to white women. At the same time, black women have high chronic health issues and preventable illnesses such as cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, and diabetes. As a result, these health conditions adversely affect infant and maternal healthcare results when these women choose to become pregnant (Davis, 2020, p. 59). However, women of color deserve healthy and safe pregnancies and childbirth. Therefore, what factors affect black maternal health, and what systematic changes should be implemented to ensure it is improved globally?
There is a significant connection between black maternal health and women in social topics. For instance, some communities discriminate against women because of gender, color, physical ability, class, and ethnicity. Davis (2020, p. 59) explains that other individuals believe that men should be more powerful than women; therefore, they disregard ideas such as women’s leadership. Some people believe that women’s primary responsibility is taking care of the home and giving birth. These perceptions adversely affect women, leading to mental health illnesses (Davis, 2020, p. 60). Therefore, it is crucial to change people’s perspectives and views about women in society. This can be achieved by encouraging the community to view women positively and accommodate them in society.
The black maternal topic has attracted many people’s attention globally. As a result, it is crucial to determine why the number of women of color in maternal and childbirth deaths is increasing in the world. It is also essential to discover the causes of more maternal complications in black women than in white individuals. This topic will help individuals identify why healthcare organizations serving women of color have lower-quality maternity care. People should understand the challenges that black women experience to have reproductive care that meets their needs. This care is essential because it assists women in planning their families and enhances women’s and children’s healthcare outcomes.
Intersectionality involves acknowledging and understanding that every person experiences oppression and discrimination differently. Intersectionality can be used in black maternal health topics to determine and identify its causes, such as race, physical ability, and sexual orientation. These factors have adversely affected women of color globally, leading to income inequality. For example, for every dollar paid to a non-Hispanic white man, a black woman gets sixty-three cents. Corresponding to Crear-Perry et al. (2021, p. 230), the lost wages push women of color to choose between necessities such as healthcare, food, and housing because they have less money to support their livelihood. Additionally, most individuals believe that black women are strong and can handle strenuous activities than white women. Understanding the different factors contributing to black maternal health will enable individuals to develop strategies that tackle every issue for women of color.
Healthcare professionals, policymakers, and the community have a vital role in enhancing black women’s maternal health. Expansion and maintenance of health care coverage throughout women of color’s lifespan, including preventive health care access, for instance, birth control, is crucial. Only 87% of reproductive-age black females have health insurance (Crear-Perry et al., 2021, p. 233). In addition, women of color should receive high-quality, safe, culturally competent, and respectful healthcare. Healthcare and public policies should prioritize offering patient-centered care to satisfy black women’s individualized needs. Social determinants, including where people work, play, and live, should be addressed (Davis, 2020, p. 64). This can be achieved through policies that build wealth, raise incomes, and improve education. Additionally, countries should increase affordable food and health availability and enhance access to safe, clean, and affordable housing.
Black women should be offered paid leave to care for themselves and their children. Women of color need access to community healthcare providers because they provide maternal, reproductive, and primary healthcare services to them (Davis, 2020, p. 64). The absence of these professionals means that these women would not access vital healthcare services. More robust protection policies for expectant women of color should be expanded. This will ensure that employers have reasonable accommodations for pregnant women.
In summary, black women deserve healthy and safe pregnancies and childbirth. Systematic adjustments starting with the healthcare system, enhance healthcare access and provide healthier work and live places for women of color. Improving black maternal healthcare outcomes will enable women of color to achieve optimal wellbeing and health throughout their life. As a result, these individuals can have different choices, such as when and how to become parents.
My proposed Boolean Search String in this topic might be “problems experienced by black women before, during and after childbirth” or “solutions to the challenges experienced by women of color when seeking for maternal health care.”
Reference
Crear-Perry, J., Correa-de-Araujo, R., Lewis Johnson, T., McLemore, M. R., Neilson, E., & Wallace, M. (2021). Social and structural determinants of health inequities in maternal health. Journal of Women’s Health, 30(2), 230-235. Web.
Davis, D. A. (2020). Reproducing while Black: The crisis of Black maternal health, obstetric racism and assisted reproductive technology. Reproductive Biomedicine & Society Online, 11, 56-64. Web.
The birthing process alone makes delivery a significant life experience, in addition to the fact that birth represents the beginning of a new existence. Physical and psychological difficulties, including coping with pain, losing control, and potential medical procedures, are part of the birthing process, which frequently involves C-sections). Nevertheless, not much information is available about the long-term psychological and physiological aspects of delivery since studies on this subject have only started to gain traction. Both mental and physiological changes are present during the whole gestation period. However, it appears to be more prevalent in the first trimesters. Thus, birthing is a difficult, laborious procedure with lasting repercussions, which involves anxiety, postpartum depression, a high risk of developing diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hyperpigmentation, and spinal issues.
Physical Effects
The first physical issue women are exposed to after childbirth is gestational diabetes. As per the research, 36% of female patients with a record of gestational diabetes (GDM) who do the 75-gram glucose tolerance test six to twelve weeks after delivery are shown to have glucose resistance (Neiger). Meanwhile, 2-16% are confirmed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (Neiger). According on risk variables and the period of follow-up, women with past gestational diabetes mellitus had a 36-70% chance of subsequently acquiring type 2 diabetes (Neiger). It is critical for women who underwent GDM to receive the proper follow-up care since diabetes damages multiple organs over time, frequently before clients are evaluated. After childbirth, women at risk of GDM might be exposed to issues with the cardiovascular system, blood vessels, renal system, eyes, and nerves.
What is additionally noteworthy is that Prediabetes was liked to a greater likelihood of compound coronary heart disease, strokes, and all-cause death relative to normoglycemia. A potential risk for the emergence of endothelial dysfunction and coronary heart disease is GDM (Neiger). It is indeed likely that during or even before a birth that is affected by gestational diabetes mellitus, artery dysfunction that raises the risk of eventual cardiovascular disease accumulates.
Another long-term physiological effect of childbirth is the development of cardiovascular disease. The postpartum phase is marked by considerable structural and cardiovascular changes. During pregnancy, heart output rises; yet, in the first few hours after birth, due to uterine contractions and the relaxation of venous system restriction, there seems to be a growth in the circulating volume of blood, increasing pulse rate and heart function by 60 to 80% (Chauhan and Tadi). Even so, this upsurge in cardiac function quickly begins to decline to pre-labor levels in several hours and to pre-pregnancy levels two weeks after giving birth. Pregnancy-related complications, such as hypertension or premature birth, might reveal families who are vulnerable to cardiovascular issues later in life (Chauhan and Tadi). It is unknown if the prenatal problem causes heart illness or if the strain of pregnancy reveals an existing propensity (Chauhan and Tadi). Nevertheless, a rising cohort of people now has this elevated cardiovascular disease risk after childbirth, which might lead to issues for both the mother and, especially, the child.
Furthermore, hyperpigmentation and stretch marks are among the long-term effects of childbirth. The most often observed skin alteration during pregnancy and after childbirth, impacting 85% to 90% of women is hyperpigmentation (Chauhan and Tadi). The idea is that increased amounts of estrogen, progesterone, and endorphins throughout gestation and childbirth make melanocytes more vulnerable (Chauhan and Tadi). Tyrosine kinase is upregulated as a result of the body’s immune substances the placenta produces, which encourages the production of more pigment (Chauhan and Tadi). Melasma and linea nigra, two pigmentation alterations related to pregnancy, are often gone in six to eight weeks (Chauhan and Tadi). Additionally, telangiectasis and spider angiomata can result from increased estrogen levels.
However, it is often the case when hyperpigmentation does not leave after childbirth, which is can be a long-lasting physical effect. In addition to hyperpigmentation during pregnancy and childbirth, the torso muscles are pulled beyond their frequent range of motion (Chauhan and Tadi). As a result, they take longer to recover their normal tension and flexibility, reaching pre-pregnancy levels in two to three months. Still, the stretch marks that can be observed in the torso and leg regions can still be present in the patient due to divarication.
Finally, diastasis recti is frequently observed in women after childbirth. After birth, the musculature experiences diastasis recti, which causes them to lose strength by becoming lax. Diastasis recti can make it difficult to maintain good posture and can cause pelvic and lower spine discomfort aggravated. Research warns that diastasis recti could result in a variety of functional issues if it is not treated. Every muscle and region around the abdomen has to find ways of making up for overstretching. A lot of people have back discomfort, an active pelvic floor, and quite stiff hips and buttocks. Consequently, women experience issues with their spinal area.
Mental Effects
As for mental and spiritual effects, among the most frequent among young mothers is the depression that takes place after childbirth. In line with other studies linking postpartum depression to views of more challenging newborn behavior, maternal postnatal depression indicated the presence of disturbed, erratic, and impatient infant behavioral style (Power et al.). It is possible that a yelling, disturbed child will impact the mother’s temperament, which will be made worse by lack of sleep, and a restless child will react negatively to a stressed-out mother (Power et al.). What is noteworthy is that research suggested that unfavorable childbirth experiences and postpartum psychological conditions play a part in depression since depression levels were associated with parental frustration (Power et al.). Consequently, it can be linked to physical and emotional birthing process (Power et al.). In this sense, spiritual changes of the mother are evident due to her changes in beliefs and desires, increasing frustration.
Additionally, a challenging or intrusive delivery may immediately result in an increase in unsettling newborn behavior, and prolonged newborn crying forecasts subsequent EPDS levels, especially if the mother does not feel capable of soothing the child (Power et al.). Oxytocin encourages connection and bonding between the infant and the mother (Power et al.). However, women who are depressed and have lower oxytocin levels seem to be more prone to disregard their child’s messages (Power et al.). Therefore, even when parental attitude recovers, postnatal depression, and parental disengagement are linked to interactional challenges that impact mother-infant attachment and infant health.
Lastly, maternal anxiety is a mental alteration in female bodies following childbirth. It has been shown that more than 20% of young mothers have postpartum anxiety, which is a common issue that has negative effects on the family (Walker et al.). It is linked to distress on an individual level, psychological and organizational instability, and poor family dynamics and both circumstances have been demonstrated to have a detrimental impact on relationships between mothers and their infants. Following childbirth, the mother might be exposed to postpartum anxiety (Walker et al.). These uncontrollable, worrisome sensations frequently dominate their thinking. It is indeed normal to feel slightly anxious after childbirth.
However, if women experience postnatal anxiety, the fear may become overwhelming and lead to the insomnia in the new mothers. Insomnia after childbirth is the struggle to consistently fall asleep or remain asleep after the delivery (Nakić Radoš et al.). Not many mothers have postnatal sleeplessness, yet they might experience it for a number of reasons, such as hormonal imbalances or lifestyle modification (Nakić Radoš et al.). Nevertheless, patients ought to receive assistance if they have trouble going to sleep or staying asleep. Taking care of sleep issues immediately might lower the risk of postnatal depression.
Conclusion
Hence, birthing is a challenging, stressful process with long-lasting effects that involve spiritual, bodily, and mental changes that a large number of women experience. Gestational diabetes is the first physical condition that women experience after giving birth. According to the study, 36% of female patients exhibit glucose resistance. The onset of cardiovascular disease is another long-term physiological impact of delivery. Stretch marks and hyperpigmentation are two additional long-term impacts of delivery that are among the most often seen skin changes. Lastly, strain after delivery commonly results in diastasis recti in women. When it comes to psychological and spiritual impacts, depression following childbirth is one of the most common among young mothers. Finally, childbirth changes and stress in female bodies cause maternal anxiety. Most young mothers develop postpartum anxiety, which, if left untreated, might progress to depression.
Power, Carmen et al. “Physical and Psychological Childbirth Experiences and Early Infant Temperament.” Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 13, 2022, pp.1-9. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.792392
Nakić Radoš, Sandra et al. “Anxiety During Pregnancy and Postpartum: Course, Predictors and Comorbidity with Postpartum Depression.” Acta Clinica Croatica, vol. 57, no.1, 2018, pp.39-51. doi:10.20471/acc.2017.56.04.05
Neiger, Ran. “Long-Term Effects of Pregnancy Complications on Maternal Health: A Review.” Journal of Clinical Medicine, vol. 6, no. 8, 2017, pp.1-22. doi:10.3390/jcm6080076
Walker, Annika L., et al. “The long-term impact of maternal anxiety and depression postpartum and in early childhood on child and paternal mental health at 11–12 years follow-up.” Frontiers in Psychiatry, vol. 11, 2020, pp.1-12. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2020.562237
In the United States, it is common to find households with both parents working. Hilbrecht, Shaw, Johnson, and Andrey (2008) allege that almost 50% of the United States’ mothers work full time. Hilbrecht et al. (2008) claim, “At least 70% of lactating mothers are in the labor force” (p. 459). A third of Americans maintain that they favor mothers who stay at home looking after their children.
However, they do not give the reasons why mothers are not supposed to work. Hock, Christman, and Hock (2010) state, “American attitudes toward working mothers have been relatively consistent over a long period, the idea being that working mothers are mostly bad for children” (p. 539). Americans stick to moralistic beliefs in spite of lack of facts. The truth is, working mothers do not interfere with the development of their children. In fact, working mothers help to sustain the family. They assist their spouses in paying rent, feed the family, and provide other essential needs.
An increase in the number of working mothers in the United States has triggered an intense debate. People opposed to working mothers argue that they are supposed to stay at home and watch their children grow. They claim that children settle for bad behaviors due to mothers abandoning them at an early age. Moreover, they hold that mothers hurt children by going to work. On the other hand, those who support working mothers claim that they are helpful in catering for family needs.
The proponents allege that children’s behaviors do not depend on the duration that they spend with the mothers. The reason I became interested in this subject is to attempt and demystify these beliefs about working mothers. Besides, I wanted to identify the factors that lead to mothers going back to work and how they manage to balance between work and caring for children.
Working mothers do not affect their children’s development process. One wonders why Americans perpetuate this stereotype. This research paper intends to answer a number of questions. The questions include:
Do mothers hurt their children by going to work?
What motivates mothers to go back to work?
How do mothers balance work and taking care of children?
Do Mothers Hurt Children?
Studies have consistently found that there is no correlation between children’s growth and work. According to a study by Gregg, Washbrook, Propper, and Burgess (2005), there are no significant disparities in psychosomatic signs, class performance, or attachment to mothers among children whose mothers work and those that their mothers stay at home. Moreover, the study found that there are no noteworthy distinctions in language, intellect, affection, and social skills among children brought up in daycare centers and those raised by their mothers.
According to Gregg et al. (2005), children whose mothers go to work before they are four years old do not perform poorly in class. Moreover, they do not develop bad habits in the future. Hoffman and Youngblade (2003) claimed that children with working mothers do not suffer from anxiety and depression later in life. They alleged that it was hard to predict how a child would behave in the future. The society maintains that mothers ought to spend much time with their children.
Consequently, it discourages women from going to work after childbirth. Nevertheless, this is not reality. Hock et al. (2010) claim that many children prefer their mothers going to work. Some children claim that they prefer their mothers going to work so that they can earn. Others argue that work relieves parents from stress. In fact, many children like relating to their fathers during their early life. Children believe that mothers take care of them by going to work. They recognize that mothers need money to buy for them clothes, and the only way they can get it is by working.
Children with working mothers and those without rate their mothers equally in terms of parenting abilities (E. Galinsky, personal communication, March 12, 2015). Children get adequate time with their mothers regardless of whether they work or stay at home. Some working mothers sacrifice their vacations and sleep to have time with children. Hence, children do not notice the difference between when their mothers go to work and when they stay at home.
Numerous variables influence children’s growth and work is not among them. One of the variables is income. Children that hail from low-income families perform poorly in class due to financial hardships. On the other hand, children from high-income families do well academically. Therefore, mothers contribute to children’s performance by either staying at home or working. According to H. Boushey, in some homes, mother is the one who determines if the family will eat, have a roof over its head or dress (personal communication, March 14, 2015). It does not matter what parents do. What matters is if parents can provide all basic needs of their children.
A survey conducted in daycare centers in the United States proved that the amount of time that children spend with their parents does not determine their future behaviors. The survey found that many mothers have paid parental leave. Hence, they get adequate time with their children. The survey found that the quality of child care depends on income level. Hence, children from low-income families receive low-quality care. Quality care is essential for all children. However, the majority of households cannot afford it. According to child specialists, parents pass on their happiness to children. Hence, a child cannot be happy if its mother is annoyed.
Happiness is associated with employment. Mothers are happy when they are employed. The Survey showed that mothers who had worked for the better part of their lives were active both physically and mentally. They did not show signs of depression. On the other hand, the survey showed that the majority of mothers who stayed at home suffered from depression and anxiety, which limited their capacities to take care of children.
What Motivates Mothers to Work?
Baxter (2008) alleged, “The factors that weigh on working mothers throughout their lives are endlessly complex and fascinating….mothers have been forced to go back to work after childbirth to fill the gap that separates family life and work” (p. 143). The best employers are those that are conscious of mothers’ needs. They give mothers adequate time to be with their families and take care of children. However, most mothers are forced to go back to work due to financial constraints.
According to Baxter (2008), some husbands are unable to meet all family needs. Hence, mothers are forced to look for jobs to supplement what men get. Consequently, mothers find themselves going back to work when children are still young. While many mothers are forced to work due to financial constraints, others go back to work to pursue their careers. Klerman and Leibowitz (2003) claim that some mothers go back to work as means to nurture their talents and pursue goals. Such mothers are contented with their work and do not care about the salary they get. Besides, they are happy with their employers.
Klerman and Leibowitz (2003) assert, “Career orientation is not about money; it is about mindset” (p. 290). Some mothers believe that work gives them an opportunity to set good role models for their children. Hence, they do all it takes to make their children develop positive attitudes toward work. According to Morehead (2001), “85 percent of career mothers claim that showing their kids that women can succeed professionally contributes to their going back to work” (p. 360). The majority of mothers aver that they consider themselves obliged to provide for their families. Many mothers admit that they do not go back to work due to external pressure. Instead, their consciences prompt them to look for work.
There are mothers who go to work in order to show their daughters the kind of life they would want for them (E. Galinsky, personal communication, March 12, 2015). According M. Sara (personal communication, March 14, 2015), she went back to work after realizing that she was setting a bad example for her daughter. Sara decided to quit work and stay with her two children. However, one day, her older daughter came from school and showed her a portrait of what she aspired to be after school.
The daughter had drawn her mother. She claimed that she aspired to be a mother when she grows up. Sara could not believe that by leaving her job, she was setting a bad example for her daughter. She wanted more for her daughter. Hence, it was hard for Sara to convince the daughter that she did not want her to be just a mere mother after school. The only way she could help the daughter was going back to work. A year later, Sarah went back to work.
Working mothers were required to respond to questions about what made them go back to work after childbirth. Many mothers cited the fear of losing employment and lifetime earnings as some of the forces that made them go back to work. According to the mothers, many employers avoid hiring people who have stayed without working for long. They claimed that being away for a long time affects one’s skills.
Hence, a mother cannot get a job if she stays for long without working. Moreover, the mothers claimed that they lost confidence after staying for long without working. It became hard for them to apply for jobs or go back to their previous employers. Hence, they preferred going back to work to preserve their jobs. Besides, some mothers claimed that they were forced to go back to work so as to ensure that they are promoted. According to the mothers, employers promote workers based on the period they have worked for the company. Hence, staying at home for long lowered their chances of getting promoted. The mothers went back to work shortly after childbirth in hope that they would be promoted.
How mothers balance between work and taking care of children
Berger and Waldfogel (2004) alleged that it is easy for mothers to decide to return to work. However, the challenge arises in establishing a balance between work and family life. Mothers try to cope with work and family, especially in the early days after childbirth. Later, mothers establish daily routines that enable them to balance between work and taking care of children. Berger and Waldfogel (2004) argued that some mothers delegate the role of caring of children to their husbands. In households where mothers are the sole breadwinners, men assume the roles of caring of the children. Wives train the men how to look after the children.
Consequently, the wives get ample time to work without worrying about children. According to Berger and Waldfogel (2004), working mothers ensure that they set their priorities right. They ensure that they consider work when planning their schedules. Edin and Lein (2004) alleged that putting work before children does not imply that mothers are selfish. It helps in self-preservation. Some mothers liaise with workmates to restructure the work timetable. According to Edin and Lein (2004), some mothers alter the schedule to spend an extra day with children. Hence, they get an opportunity to be with children and monitor them as they grow.
Garey (1999) claimed that women opt to work for organizations that are flexible, offer paid paternity leave, and require less travel. The Family and Medical Leave Act requires companies to provide unpaid leave to their employees. However, the Act does not cover all workers. As a result, some mothers prefer taking jobs that are not excessively involving.
According to S. Coontz (personal communication, March 15, 2015), most mothers take children to private nurseries during working days. The nurseries take care of the children at a fee. Mothers pick the children in the evening after work. In addition, she claimed that some mothers look for assistance from the children’s grandparents. The majority of those who rely on the assistance from their grandparents are mothers aged between 18 and 34 years.
Some mothers start planning for children in advance to ensure that they do not encounter financial constraints after childbirth (A. Ponce, personal communication, March 12, 2015). The reason the majority of mothers opt to work is to support their husbands in taking care of the families. Therefore, some mothers save in advance before they plan to get children. Saving in advance gives mothers an opening to stay at home and take care of their children. The mothers make sure that they have saved enough money to last them the first three years, which are critical in children’s life. Once the three years are over, they look for jobs and take children to daycare centers.
The contemporary economic situation does not allow mothers to stay at home. Taking care of children needs money. In most cases, husbands earn little such that they cannot support the families prompting mothers to chip in and assist. A survey conducted in the United States households proved that some parents are obliged to hire in-house assistants to take care of children as they work. In spite of the numerous daycare centers that look after children, some mothers prefer hiring in-house assistants to allow the children remain at homes.
Some mothers claimed that they hired in-house assistants to take care of children and not perform domestic duties. Today, Americans have established integrated children’s daycare centers that offer services throughout the year. Many mothers prefer the daycare centers because they provide comprehensive services. Mothers do not have to worry about the education and wellbeing of their children. Hence, the centers enable mothers to concentrate on work and pursue their careers without interruptions.
Conclusion
For decades, people have alleged that working mothers hurt their children. The majority of Americans believe that mothers are supposed to stay at home and take care of children until they grow. Nevertheless, many mothers tend to go back to work shortly after childbirth. Americans should know that working mothers do not affect children’s development process. Indeed, they contribute to the development of their children. When mothers are happy, their children are happy too.
Different factors contribute to mothers going back to work. Besides, mothers use different strategies to ensure that they balance between work and looking after children. This paper has helped to negate the perception that working mothers torture their children. Besides, it has assisted to identify the reasons why mothers decide to go back to work after childbirth.
The perception that working mothers hamper the growth of their kids is erroneous. Research has shown that children’s growth is not related to work. Moreover, study has found that children whose mothers work perform well in class and do not suffer from behavioral problems. Many children prefer their mothers going to work. They allege that mothers cannot buy for them clothes and other items unless they work. Both working and non-working mothers are rated equally in terms of parenting duties. Research has shown that income contributes to child growth. Children from affluent families do better than those from poor households. Therefore, working mothers augment children’s growth since they contribute to families’ income.
This article has helped to change the perception that working mothers hurt their children. From the findings, it is evident that working mothers are better than non-working mothers in terms of parenting responsibilities. Research has shown that children from families that both parents work do better academically and morally. Thus, the findings negate the belief that a mother has to be around her child so that it becomes morally upright. Moral upbringing does not depend on parents only, but also on the society.
Mothers should learn that children regard them as their role models. Thus, if they want children to have a better future, they should make sure that they set good examples. At times, mothers think that they help their children by staying at home. However, they do not set good examples for the children, particularly girls. Girls may believe that females are obliged to stay at home and take care of children.
The presence of integrated daycare centers has made it easy for mothers to balance between work and taking care of children. Mothers take children to daycare centers and pick them in the evening. For mothers who do not prefer daycare centers, they hire in-house assistants to look after children. Apart from in-house assistants and daycare centers, mothers also liaise with workmates to establish flexible working schedules. It allows them to have sufficient time with children.
References
Baxter, J. (2008). Is money the main reason mothers return to work after childbearing? Journal of Population Research, 25(2), 141-160.
Berger, L., & Waldfogel, J. (2004). Maternity leave and the employment of new mothers in the United States. Journal of Population Economics, 17(2), 331-349.
Edin, K., & Lein, L. (2004). Making ends meet: How single mothers survive welfare and low-wage work. New York: Russell Sage Foundation.
Garey, A. (1999). Weaving work and motherhood. Philadelphia: Temple University Press.
Gregg, P., Washbrook, E., Propper, C., & Burgess, S. (2005). The effects of a mother’s return to work decision on child development in the UK. The Economic Journal, 115(501), 48-80.
Hilbrecht, M., Shaw, S., Johnson, L., & Andrey, J. (2008). I’m home for the kids’: Contradictory implications for work-life balance of teleworking mothers. Gender, Work & Organization, 15(5), 454-476.
Hock, E., Christman, K., & Hock, M. (2010). Factors associated with decisions about return to work in mothers of infants. Developmental Psychology, 16(5), 535-560.
Hoffman, L. & Youngblade, L. (2003). Mothers at work: Effects on children’s well-being. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
Klerman, J., & Leibowitz, A. (2003). Child care and women’s return to work after childbirth. The American Economic Review, 80(2), 284-293.
Morehead, A. (2001). Synchronizing time for work and family: Preliminary insights from qualitative research with mothers. Journal of Sociology, 37(4), 355-369.