Adolescent mothers' experiences of the transition to motherhood: An integrative review.
Erfina Erfina, Widyawati Widyawati, Lisa McKenna and 2 others
PMID 31406896WHAT IT FOUND
Adolescent mothers described pain, tiredness, mixed feelings, and infant-care uncertainty as barriers, while support from their own mother and the baby's father was described as important.
Nurses should coach, not take over, early care.
Key findings
01Teenage mothers reported physical problems associated with pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding, mixed feelings, caring for the baby, need for social support, education and economic strain, and health-care experiences as key factors in the transition.
02Support from the new mother's own mother and the baby's father was reported as important for maternal identity and positive self-perception.
03Health professionals who took over infant care instead of supporting the mother were described as compounding her helplessness, and supportive open communication from midwives and social workers was described as helping her feel more confident.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Most included studies were qualitative, so the review cannot show which factors are most important or whether any intervention works. Only English-language original research from 2005 to 2018 was included, so relevant non-English studies and newer work are missing. The 18 studies came from many countries, settings, and sample sizes from 4 to 126, so one clinic may not match the whole picture. The review did not compare primiparous and multiparous mothers' psychological aspects, and no studies evaluated cultural and policy-related health care. The authors state that effectiveness of nursing and midwifery interventions in the transition period still needs study.
Declared interests
No conflict of interest has been declared by the authors.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read these themes as proof that social support or nursing interventions improve adolescent motherhood. The review describes experiences and reported links, not tested interventions.