The Support Network in Pregnancy and Childbirth: The Conceptions of Women With Physical Disability

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the conception of women with physical disability regarding the support network for the exercising of motherhood. It is descriptive-exploratory research, with qualitative approach, whose data were collected through semistructured interviews with 12 women with physical disability, undertaken between April and June 2014. The technique of thematic analysis was used for the treatment of the information, and Symbolic Interactionism was used as the theoretical framework. The interviewees reported the importance of the support of the partner, of family members, and of health professionals, during pregnancy and the postpartum, for them to be able to exercise the maternal role. The absence of this support influenced their conceptions regarding their capacity in this function. One can observe the need to promote the reproductive health of the person with a disability, so as to mitigate the stigmas and thus provide them with appropriate support. In addition to this, the health professionals must be trained to understand holistically their needs and rights.

Transition to motherhood and mothering for women in wheelchairs: a nursing perspective

“…The developmental transitions described in theory are the situations related to the life cycle (8) . This type of transition occurred in all women in the study and manifested with gestation, childbirth, caring for a child and with the passage from woman to mother, as occurs for non-disabled women (2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8) .…”

“…Patterns of response to motherhood/mothering include progress and outcome indicators in Transition Theory. Patterns of response include progress indicators in the transition process (integration with the social network, trust, and coping) and outcome indicators (such as the abilities and the identities that the individual assumes to make the transition) (5)(6) .…”

“…Progress indicators evaluate the transition of women in wheelchairs through the connections, interactions and location of these woman in the transition process (6) . There was an attempt to develop support networks ever since the pregnancy process, and in motherhood and mothering.…”

“…The outcome indicators are related to the skills and behaviors required to deal with the new reality. The mastery of these skills is associated with healthy outcomes of the transition and redefinition of self-concepts (6) . Disabled women have proved to be extremely skilled and able to make adaptations to care for their children, albeit with help from family or caregivers.…”

“…Nursing professionals have an important role in this scenario because, in addition to providing comprehensive care to attend the needs of these women, they are also concerned with the interference of socio-cultural relations in their decision-making process and with the autonomy of the disabled woman, thus providing a support network (6) .…”