Adaptation and Reflection in the Transition to Parenthood for Women With Risk Factors for Early Parenting Difficulties Who Participated in the STAR Mums Program

Abstract

The Supporting Transitions and Relationships (STAR Mums) program was developed in response to the clinical need for psychological intervention in pregnancy where mothers have risk factors for difficulties in the transition to parenthood. The program focuses on the developing relationship between the mother and the unborn child and aims to facilitate the normal psychological processes that are known to occur in pregnancy to prepare for the relationship with the infant and to reduce risk factors that may negatively impact this relationship. This article reports on interview data from the final follow-up of 12 high-risk participants at 12 to 14 weeks postpartum regarding their transition to parenthood and aspects of parental reflective function. These women presented with issues in developing their maternal identity and representation in the context of difficulties processing their own difficult childhood experiences. They also demonstrated some issues with limited reflective capacity in their understanding of their infant’s emotional world and experiences. Though there are ongoing issues for these women, they provided feedback that the STAR Mums program included valued discussion around the changes in both self and relationships involved in parenting that helped them to prepare for their experiences of early parenthood by supporting their wondering about the baby and the changes that this new relationship may bring for them as a parent.

Keywords:

• Perinatal
• transition
• infant
• parent
• intervention

Compliance and Ethics Standards

This research includes human subjects and informed consent was obtained from all participants. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Data Availability

The data sets generated during the current study and/or analyzed during the current study are not publicly available due to the sensitive nature of the topics discussed and the potential for confidentiality to be breached but are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Australian Research Council and the National Health and Medical Research Council.