6.4.1 Women's perceptions of their health through life transitions: Mothering young children during perimenopause (257)

Patricia Morgan, Assistant Professor, Associate Degree Coordinator, Nursing and Health Services Management, University of New England, Portland, Maine, United States Co authors: Joy Merrell & Dorothy Rentschler Pamorgan@une.edu

Abstract:

Background:

Women are having children at an older age than any time in the past 50 years (Hall,1999).The overall birth rate for women aged 35 to 39 years increased more than 100% since 1978, and the rate for women aged 40-44 years more than doubled from 1981-2000 (Nelson, 2004). Few studies, particularly qualitative studies, have explored the mothering experiences of women who give birth after the age of 35 years, and none of these include women who are simultaneously experiencing symptoms of perimenopause.

Aim:

To understand women’s perceptions of their health as they mother young children, while simultaneously transitioning to menopause.

Method:

Using the qualitative theoretical perspective of hermeneutic phenomenology, data were generated through in-depth serial interviews with a purposive sample of 13 women (26 interviews total), between 2004- 2007. Inclusion criteria were women 40 years old when they delivered or adopted their first child, and who were experiencing symptoms of perimenopause. Data analysis is ongoing using thematic analysis and will be completed in time for presentation at the conference.

Results:

Preliminary findings support that midlife women consider themselves healthy despite menopausal symptoms. Their position as older mothers serves as motivation for healthy behaviors in order to ‘be there’ for the child in the future. Uncertainty is a prominent feature in understanding older mothers’ experiences transitioning into menopause and motherhood. Their experiences are compounded by insufficient preparation for menopause by healthcare providers and inadequate social support networks.

Conclusion:

There is little understanding about older mothers’ experiences of mothering, let alone how these may change or be affected by other overlapping life transitions, like menopause. This study adds to the limited body of knowledge and has implications for the support provided to these women by healthcare providers.

Biography:

Ms. Morgan is an Assistant Professor, and the Associate Degree Coordinator, appointed on the Tenure Track in the Department of Nursing and Health Services Management at The University of New England in Portland Maine, USA. She received her BSN from The University of Rhode Island in the USA, and worked as a staff nurse in Labor & Delivery, Post Partum, and the Neonatal Nursery for 20 years before completing a Master’s Degree in Nursing at The University of New Hampshire. She has taught Fundamentals of Nursing, and Obstetric and Neonatal Nursing for six years at UNE, and is currently a doctoral student in the School of Health Science at the University of Wales, Swansea, United Kingdom. Her research interests include women’s health issues, and the unique challenges of educating nursing students aged 18-24.Patricia is the Maine state chair of the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses,(AWHONN), and she represents Maine AWHONN members at the annual leadership conference each year in Washington D.C. Patricia is also a member of the National League for Nursing,and has served on the board for Kappa-Zeta-At-Large, the local chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International.