Primiparous Mothers: What Makes Them Confident About Motherhood?

Motherhood is marked by potential demands arising from biological, psychological, and social factors. This result in fears and worries about their efficacy in becoming a mother. However, these can be managed with the help of one's social support arising from her family and friends. The aim of the present study is to explore the potential fears and support sought by primiparous mothers who are residing in South India, in handling their pregnancy. Primiparous refers to a woman who is experiencing childbirth for the first time in her life. An Indian woman's childbirth experience involves significant family involvement which, in recent days, is shifting due to rapid urbanization and an increase in nuclear families. The current study employed a qualitative approach to uncover maternal fears and expectations among Indian primiparous mothers regarding the maternal care received from the family. 13 primiparous mothers were interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide. The data collected were carefully coded and categorized using thematic analysis by Braun and Clarke method. The themes that emerged from the present study are as follows: Maternal Self-efficacy, Childbirth complications, emotional support, practical support, and informational support. The study highlights the importance of social support in handling the fear and worries arising during the journey of motherhood.