Preparing solo mothers for childbirth and parenthood - The importance of being with like-minded women.

OBJECTIVES: Denmark and many high-income countries have seen an increase in the number of single women getting pregnant through medical assisted reproduction (MAR). These women are also named solo mothers. According to the Danish Health Authorities, they should, as all other pregnant women, be offered antenatal education. The aim of this study was to explore solo mothers' needs in order to prepare them for childbirth and parenthood. METHODS: This qualitative study was set to investigate solo mothers' experiences and requirements during pregnancy toprepare them for childbirth and parenting. Semi-structured interviews were conducted by telephone or face-to-face. A systematic text condensation and interpretation was used to analyse data. RESULTS: 38 interviews were conducted before and after pregnancy. Twenty solo mothers participated in the study. Three themes emerged from the analysis: 'Confrontation with the normative pregnancy', 'Mirroring and network' and 'Using formal and informal sources to gain information'. CONCLUSION: The conventional antenatal packages offered by the healthcare system did not meet the solo mothers' needs. The women called for content and information tailored to single parents. Solo mothers may benefit from structured antenatal classes in small groups. Being with like-minded women was essential for preparing for childbirth and parenting.

The creation of a solo-mother family - a qualitative study.

The aim of this study was to explore women's experiences of and perspectives on the process of creating a solo-mother family through assisted reproductive technology. This study was designed as an explorative, qualitative study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted face to face or by telephone to explore women's experiences of and perspectives on creating a solo-mother family. We used systematic text condensation to analyse the data. Twenty solo mothers participated in the study and 38 interviews were conducted during and after pregnancy. Four themes related to the experiences of building a solo-mother family emerged from the data analysis: (1) Dealing with reactions on the choice to become pregnant by Medically Assisted Reproduction (MAR) and a solo mother, (2) Marketisation of motherhood, (3) Longing to be a 'normal' pregnant woman, (4) Grandparents as co-parents and leaning on siblings and friends. The women went through a process redefining themselves, because they considered the nuclear family as the ideal. They realised on a profound level that they were 'on their own'. Generally, the woman's biological family played a vital role, supporting her emotionally and in practical ways. The creation of a solo-mother family was often seen to take place with grandparents as co-parents. The women leaned to a less extent on close friends.