Balance needs of new mother

Making the transition to motherhood is filled with challenges and opportunities. There is the potential for growth and development as a woman, as a couple and as a family.

In two decades of interviews with women from a variety of cultures who had recently given birth, these women expressed that making the transition to motherhood was a time for mixed emotions: joy, anxiety, confusion, overwhelming responsibility, love, helplessness, fear, depression, exhaustion, guilt and happiness.

There are three major needs to balance: The development of the relationship with the child, meeting the personal needs of both father and mother and meeting the needs of the couple. Strategies that can help in making the transition to motherhood include:

1. Developing a plan for social support -- family, friends, professionals and community resources.

2. Learning skills to help the new mother feel confident and competent in infant care.

3. Being prepared for emotional responses and sleep deprivation that contribute to feeling overwhelmed and knowing these feelings are normal.

4. Identifying realistic goals for the early parenting experience.

5. Sharing the birth experience by writing a journal or recording an audiotape.

This will be a treasure in years to come.

Most of all, relax and enjoy the miracle of motherhood.

Lynn Clark Callister, RN, Ph.D., FAAN, is a professor in Brigham Young University's College of Nursing. Next week, Callister writes on the transition to fatherhood.

Copyright C 2005 Deseret News Publishing Co.
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.