Mentors Offering Maternal Support (M.O.M.S.)
Abstract
A woman's successful adaptation to motherhood is key to overall family health. For military wives and mothers this is the first step towards a strong family foundation that can support changing roles and responsibilities as a result of deployments and lengthy military separations. The M.O.M.S. program offers a framework for maternal support. Obstetrical and neonatal nurses are best suited to lead the development of mentored support because of their familiarity with the pregnant woman and the family's needs. This randomized controlled study was an intervention designed to promote prenatal maternal psychosocial adaptation to pregnancy. The target population for the study were gravid women receiving obstetrical care at Eglin AFB who were experiencing or anticipated deployment of their husbands during the course of their pregnancies. The purposes of the study were as follows: (1) Explore the feasibility of developing, implementing, and sustaining the M.O.M.S. program by examining gravida attendance and attrition patterns; (2) Explore the acceptability and suitability of the mentoring support intervention to gravidas of deployed service members; (3) Evaluate the participants' and mentors' satisfaction with the "Becoming a Mother Manual" and its effectiveness in increasing group interactions; and (4) Evaluate the effectiveness of the M.O.M.S. program in reducing the conflict associated with prenatal maternal adaptation to pregnancy and enhancing maternal-fetal attachment and self-esteem. The participants were randomized to an intervention of 8 structured support sessions and unlimited unstructured support from a trained mentor. The control group received the current prenatal plan of care with home visits or informational support provided through the New Parent Support Program. The results of this study also reflect the importance of the marital relationship and the husband's supportive role in his wife's maternal adaptive process.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 02, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA552758
Entities
People
- Karen L. Weis
Organizations
- 59th Medical Wing