Effect Of Woman’s Self-Awareness On The Maternal Process: A Qualitative Case Study

Year 2023, Volume: 5 Issue: 3, 467 - 475, 25.12.2023

Ayşe Deliktaş Demirci Parvin Ahmadova Kamile Kabukcuoğlu

Abstract

Purpose: To address and examine the effect of awareness of a woman’s existence on the maternal process.
Method: In this study, a case study method was used. Qualitative interviews were conducted with the participant in the postpartum period, who structured and carried out awareness programs on woman’s existence. Data obtained from the interviews were evaluated by performed content analysis.
Results: It was stated that being aware of the woman’s body and self helps to be in harmony with the pregnant body and in contact with the baby. It has been pointed out that it provides a positive birth experience and being at the moment of birth by getting away from fears and having control over the body during the birth process. In addition, it was emphasized that less anxiety during breastfeeding provides satisfaction with breastfeeding and the development of positive sensitivity towards the needs of the baby.
Conclusion and Suggestions: It was determined that the awareness of own body and existential structure as a woman has important contributions to the pregnancy, birth, and postpartum process. Therefore, it can be recommended to use approaches that aim to create and develop an awareness of woman's existence in support and preparation programs for pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. In addition, there is a need for comprehensive studies that implement awareness of woman's existence program and evaluate its effects on maternal health.

Keywords

Body image, Self-esteem, Pregnancy, Birth, Postpartum

Kadın Öz-Farkındalığının Maternal Sürece Etkisi: Niteliksel Bir Olgu Çalışması

Abstract

Amaç: Kadın varoluşuna ilişkin farkındalığın maternal sürece etkisini ele almak ve incelemektir.
Yöntem: Çalışmada olgu sunumu yöntemi kullanılmıştır. Kadın varoluşuna ilişkin farkındalık programlarını yapılandıran ve yürüten katılımcı ile doğum sonrası dönemde nitel görüşme yapılmıştır. Görüşmelerden elde edilen veriler içerik analizi yapılarak değerlendirilmiştir.
Bulgular: Kadın beden ve benliğine ilişkin farkındalık sahibi olmanın gebe beden ile uyum halinde olmayı ve bebek ile iletişimde olmayı sağladığı ifade edilmiştir. Doğum sürecinde korkulardan uzaklaşma ve beden üzerinde kontrol sahibi olarak pozitif doğum deneyimi ve doğum anında olmayı sağladığı belirtilmiştir. Ayrıca, emzirme döneminde kaygılarının az olması ile emzirmeden doyum alma ve bebeğin gereksinimlerine yönelik pozitif hassasiyet gelişimini sağladığı ifade edilmiştir.
Sonuç ve Öneriler: Sonuç olarak kadın olarak kendi beden ve varoluşsal yapısına ilişkin farkındalığın gebelik, doğum ve doğum sonrası sürece önemli katkılarının olduğu belirlenmiştir. Bu nedenle, gebelik sürecinde gebelik, doğum ve sonrası sürece destek ve hazırlık programlarında kadın varoluşuna ilişkin farkındalığın oluşturulması ve geliştirilmesini hedefleyen yaklaşımların kullanılması önerilebilir. Ayrıca, kadın varoluşuna ilişkin farkındalık ve bunun anne sağlığı üzerine etkilerini gösteren kapsamlı çalışmalara gereksinim vardır.

Keywords

Beden İmajı, Benlik Saygısı, Gebelik, Doğum, Doğum Sonrası.

References

• Davis, E. P., & Sandman, C. A. (2010). The timing of prenatal exposure to maternal cortisol and psychosocial stress is associated with human infant cognitive development. Child development, 81(1), 131-148.
• Huang, Y., Ouyang, Y.-Q., & Redding, S. R. (2019). Previous breastfeeding experience and its influence on breastfeeding outcomes in subsequent births: a systematic review. Women and Birth, 32(4), 303-309.
• Karaçam, Z., & Sağlık, M. (2018). Emzirme sorunları ve sorunlara ilişkin yapılan girişimler: Türkiye'de yapılan çalışmalara dayalı bir sistematik derleme. Turkish Archives of Pediatrics, 53(3).
• Yu S. Uncovering the hidden impacts of inequality on mental health: a global study. Translational psychiatry. 2018;8(1):1-10. Bayraktar E. Toplumsal cinsiyet, kültür ve şiddetin infertilite ile ilişkisi. Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi. 2018;27(3):234-238.
• Kim E, Park H, editors. Perceived gender discrimination, belief in a just world, self-esteem, and depression in Korean working women: A moderated mediation model. Women's Studies International Forum; 2018: Elsevier.
• Bilgin R. Geleneksel ve modern toplumda kadin bedeni ve cinselliği. Fırat Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi. 2016;26(1):219-244.
• Michelsen CS, Sundberg P, Ekstrand L, Norlander T. Psychological empowerment: users and professionals in psychiatric care before and after mindfulness treatment. Psychology. 2018;9(5):1194-207.
• Ojha R. Role of yoga and meditation in the empowerment of women; an ethical perspective. IOSR J Eng. 2013;3:1-5.
• Tihanyi BT, Böőr P, Emanuelsen L, Köteles F. 'Mediators between yoga practice and psychological well-being: mindfulness, body awareness and satisfaction with body image'. European Journal of Mental Health. 2016;11(1-2):112.
• Li J, Luo H, Long L. Mindfulness and fertility quality of life in Chinese women with infertility: assessing the mediating roles of acceptance, autonomy and self-regulation. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology. 2019;37(5):455-67.
• Veringa IK, de Bruin EI, Bardacke N, Duncan LG, van Steensel FJ, Dirksen CD, et al. ‘I’ve Changed My Mind’, Mindfulness-Based Childbirth and Parenting (MBCP) for pregnant women with a high level of fear of childbirth and their partners: study protocol of the quasi-experimental controlled trial. BMC psychiatry. 2016;16(1):1-14.
• Hulsbosch LP, Nyklíček I, Potharst ES, Meems M, Boekhorst MG, Pop VJ. Online mindfulness-based intervention for women with pregnancy distress: design of a randomized controlled trial. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. 2020;20(1):1-10.
• Stafford L, Foley E, Judd F, Gibson P, Kiropoulos L, Couper J. Mindfulness-based cognitive group therapy for women with breast and gynecologic cancer: a pilot study to determine effectiveness and feasibility. Supportive Care in Cancer. 2013;21(11):3009-19.
• Sood R, Kuhle CL, Kapoor E, Thielen J, Frohmader K, Mara K, et al. Association of mindfulness and stress with menopausal symptoms in midlife women. Climacteric. 2019;22(4):377-82.
• Yıldırım A, Simsek H. Sosyal Bilimlerde Nitel Araştırma Yöntemleri (11 baski: 1999-2018). 1999.
• Chandra V, Loosemore M. Women's self‐perception: an inter‐sector comparison of construction, legal and nursing professionals. Construction Management and Economics. 2004;22(9):947-56.
• Kartal B, Kizilirmak A, Zedelenmez A, Erdem E. Investigation of body perception in pregnant women according to physical changes in pregnancy. Çağdaş Tıp Dergisi. 2018;8(4):356-60.
• Przybyła-Basista H, Kwiecińska E, Ilska M. Body acceptance by pregnant women and their attitudes toward pregnancy and maternity as predictors of prenatal depression. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020;17(24):9436.
• Fahami F, Amini-Abchuyeh M, Aghaei A. The relationship between psychological wellbeing and body image in pregnant women. Iranian journal of nursing and midwifery research. 2018;23(3):167.
• Barris-Oliveira AC, Coelho GLdH, Liao AW, Assir FF, Neves AL, Zlotnik E, et al. Effects of negative and positive affect on antenatal maternal attachment: The mediational role of resilience and self-esteem. Current Psychology. 2022:1-7.
• Canlı A, Demirtaş B. Prenatal Attachment and the Relationship With Body Self-Perception. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing. 2022;51(1):e1-e12.
• Kantrowitz-Gordon I, Abbott S, Hoehn R. Experiences of postpartum women after mindfulness childbirth classes: a qualitative study. Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health. 2018;63(4):462-9.
• Duncan LG, Cohn MA, Chao MT, Cook JG, Riccobono J, Bardacke N. Benefits of preparing for childbirth with mindfulness training: a randomized controlled trial with active comparison. BMC pregnancy and childbirth. 2017;17(1):1-11.
• Tani F, Castagna V. Maternal social support, quality of birth experience, and post-partum depression in primiparous women. The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine. 2017;30(6):689-92.
• Bell AF, Andersson E. The birth experience and women's postnatal depression: A systematic review. Midwifery. 2016;39:112-23.
• Demirci AD, Kabukcuglu K, Haugan G, Aune I. “I want a birth without interventions”: Women’s childbirth experiences from Turkey. Women and Birth. 2019;32(6):e515-e22.
• Huang Y, Ouyang Y-Q, Redding SR. Previous breastfeeding experience and its influence on breastfeeding outcomes in subsequent births: a systematic review. Women and Birth. 2019;32(4):303-9.
• Hauff LE, Demerath EW. Poor positioning, decreased prolactin levels, and low milk output associated with early cessation of exclusive breastfeeding in obese women. Wiley Online Library; 2012.
• Karaçam Z, Sağlık M. Emzirme sorunları ve sorunlara ilişkin yapılan girişimler: Türkiye'de yapılan çalışmalara dayalı bir sistematik derleme. Turkish Archives of Pediatrics. 2018;53(3).