Faculty of Health & Environmental Sciences, Centre of Midwifery & Women's Health Research, Auckland University of Technology, Private Bag 92006, Auckland, New Zealand.
Disabil Rehabil. 2010;32(8):629-38. doi: 10.3109/09638280903204708.
This study aimed to provide a better understanding of the experiences of women with multiple sclerosis (MS) in becoming or being a mother. The research also focused on eliciting their perspectives of strategies that helped them and their families manage mothering young children whilst living with MS.
A qualitative, interpretive, descriptive approach using individual interviews to elicit and analyze women's experiences of MS and pregnancy, birth, and mothering young children.
Analysis of interviews with nine women produced six key themes: becoming a mother as a public private experience, keeping the baby safe; support; conserving energy; being the ideal mother; and backgrounding of their MS. Having MS required the women to set in place specific strategies for managing pregnancy and motherhood associated with a number of these issues such as gathering information and identifying sources of physical and social support.
This study highlights how pregnancy and motherhood are valued, but challenging times, for women with MS. Recommendations about how services might respond to the specific challenges for women with MS considering or becoming mothers are proposed.
本研究旨在深入了解多发性硬化症（MS）女性成为或成为母亲的经历。研究还重点探讨了有助于她们及其家人在患有 MS 的同时照顾幼儿的策略。
采用定性、解释性、描述性方法，通过个人访谈来引出和分析女性在 MS 和怀孕、分娩和照顾幼儿方面的经历。
对 9 名女性的访谈分析产生了 6 个主要主题：成为公众和私人经历的母亲，保护婴儿安全；支持；节约能量；成为理想的母亲；以及 MS 的背景。患有 MS 要求女性制定具体的策略来管理与怀孕和母亲身份相关的问题，例如收集信息和确定身体和社会支持的来源。
本研究强调了怀孕和母亲身份对患有 MS 的女性来说是有价值的，但也是具有挑战性的时期。提出了关于服务如何应对正在考虑或成为母亲的 MS 女性的具体挑战的建议。
