Becoming mothers. Multiple sclerosis and motherhood: a qualitative study. 2010

Deborah Payne, and Kathryn M McPherson
Faculty of Health & Environmental Sciences, Centre of Midwifery & Women's Health Research, Auckland University of Technology, Private Bag 92006, Auckland, New Zealand. Debbie.payne@aut.ac.nz

OBJECTIVE This study aimed to provide a better understanding of the experiences of women with multiple sclerosis (MS) in becoming or being a mother. The research also focused on eliciting their perspectives of strategies that helped them and their families manage mothering young children whilst living with MS. METHODS A qualitative, interpretive, descriptive approach using individual interviews to elicit and analyze women's experiences of MS and pregnancy, birth, and mothering young children. RESULTS Analysis of interviews with nine women produced six key themes: becoming a mother as a public private experience, keeping the baby safe; support; conserving energy; being the ideal mother; and backgrounding of their MS. Having MS required the women to set in place specific strategies for managing pregnancy and motherhood associated with a number of these issues such as gathering information and identifying sources of physical and social support. CONCLUSIONS This study highlights how pregnancy and motherhood are valued, but challenging times, for women with MS. Recommendations about how services might respond to the specific challenges for women with MS considering or becoming mothers are proposed.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D009035 Mothers Female parents, human or animal. Mothers' Clubs,Club, Mothers',Clubs, Mothers',Mother,Mother Clubs,Mother's Clubs,Mothers Clubs,Mothers' Club
D009103 Multiple Sclerosis An autoimmune disorder mainly affecting young adults and characterized by destruction of myelin in the central nervous system. Pathologic findings include multiple sharply demarcated areas of demyelination throughout the white matter of the central nervous system. Clinical manifestations include visual loss, extra-ocular movement disorders, paresthesias, loss of sensation, weakness, dysarthria, spasticity, ataxia, and bladder dysfunction. The usual pattern is one of recurrent attacks followed by partial recovery (see MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, RELAPSING-REMITTING), but acute fulminating and chronic progressive forms (see MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, CHRONIC PROGRESSIVE) also occur. (Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p903) MS (Multiple Sclerosis),Multiple Sclerosis, Acute Fulminating,Sclerosis, Disseminated,Disseminated Sclerosis,Sclerosis, Multiple
D009520 New Zealand A group of islands in the southwest Pacific. Its capital is Wellington. It was discovered by the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman in 1642 and circumnavigated by Cook in 1769. Colonized in 1840 by the New Zealand Company, it became a British crown colony in 1840 until 1907 when colonial status was terminated. New Zealand is a partly anglicized form of the original Dutch name Nieuw Zeeland, new sea land, possibly with reference to the Dutch province of Zeeland. (From Webster's New Geographical Dictionary, 1988, p842 & Room, Brewer's Dictionary of Names, 1992, p378)
D011247 Pregnancy The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH. Gestation,Pregnancies
D011248 Pregnancy Complications Conditions or pathological processes associated with pregnancy. They can occur during or after pregnancy, and range from minor discomforts to serious diseases that require medical interventions. They include diseases in pregnant females, and pregnancies in females with diseases. Adverse Birth Outcomes,Complications, Pregnancy,Adverse Birth Outcome,Birth Outcome, Adverse,Complication, Pregnancy,Outcome, Adverse Birth,Pregnancy Complication
D001942 Breast Feeding The nursing of an infant at the breast. Breast Fed,Breastfed,Milk Sharing,Wet Nursing,Breast Feeding, Exclusive,Breastfeeding,Breastfeeding, Exclusive,Exclusive Breast Feeding,Exclusive Breastfeeding,Sharing, Milk
D005221 Fatigue The state of weariness following a period of exertion, mental or physical, characterized by a decreased capacity for work and reduced efficiency to respond to stimuli. Lassitude
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man

Related Publications

Deborah Payne, and Kathryn M McPherson
January 2020, International journal of community based nursing and midwifery,
Deborah Payne, and Kathryn M McPherson
June 2013, The practising midwife,
Deborah Payne, and Kathryn M McPherson
June 2022, International journal of environmental research and public health,
Deborah Payne, and Kathryn M McPherson
January 2018, Social work in public health,
Deborah Payne, and Kathryn M McPherson
February 2024, Journal of reproductive and infant psychology,
Deborah Payne, and Kathryn M McPherson
January 2013, International journal of women's health,
Deborah Payne, and Kathryn M McPherson
February 1999, The Journal of neuroscience nursing : journal of the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses,
Deborah Payne, and Kathryn M McPherson
December 2014, Revista de neurologia,
Copied contents to your clipboard!