Maternal adjustment to the birth of a child: Primiparity versus multiparity

Abstract

Introduction: The literature has highlighted the birth of a first child as a crisis moment that implies change and reorganisation. None the less, the specificities of maternal adjustment to the birth of another child are not yet completely known. Goals: To understand differences in adjusting to the birth of a child, in primiparous and multiparous mothers. Specifically: (1) identify and describe differences in adjusting at two different moments: 2–5 days after the birth and 8 months post‐partum; (2) identify and describe differences or continuities among primiparous and multiparous mothers regarding the temporal evolution of adjustment. Method: 179 mothers (98 primiparous; 81 multiparous) were assessed in two different periods: 2–5 days after the birth and 8 months later, concerning adjustment and need for reorganisation. The assessment protocol included a social‐demographic data file, the Emotional Assessment Scale, the Brief Symptom Inventory, the Perceived Stress Scale, and adjectival scales. Results: Primiparous mothers report greater adjustment difficulties right after the birth. Multiparous mothers show a less positive adjustment trajectory, mainly reflected in increasing levels of negative emotional reactivity. Conclusion: Results support the existence of different adjustment trajectories for primiparous and multiparous mothers, suggesting the need for differentiated psychological intervention strategies regarding each group.

Keywords:

• motherhood
• psychological adjustment
• parity

Notes

1. In Portugal, this happens in the fourth to fifth month after the birth.