When Your Pregnancy Echoes Your Illness: Transition to Motherhood With Inflammatory Bowel Disease. (July 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ghorayeb, Jihane; Branney, Peter; Selinger, Christian P.; Madill, Anna
• Is Part Of: Qualitative health research. Volume 28:Number 8(2018)
• Page Start: 1283
• Page End: 1294
• Publication Date: 2018-07
• Subjects: chronic illness -- inflammatory bowel disease -- motherhood -- pregnancy -- qualitative -- women -- thematic analysis -- United Kingdom; Health -- Periodicals; Health behavior -- Periodicals; Health -- Research -- Methodology -- Periodicals; Health behavior -- Research -- Methodology -- Periodicals; 610.7205
• DOI: 10.1177/1049732318763114
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1049-7323

Abstract

Our aim is to provide an understanding of the experience of women with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) who have made the transition to motherhood. A total of 22 mothers with IBD were recruited from around the United Kingdom. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and analyzed using thematic analysis. The central concept— Blurred Lines —offers a novel frame for understanding the transition to motherhood with IBD through identifying parallels between having IBD and becoming, and being, a mother. Parallels clustered into three main themes: Need for Readiness, Lifestyle Changes, and Monitoring Personal and Physical Development . Hence, women with IBD are in some ways well prepared for the challenges of motherhood even though, as a group, they tend to restrict their reproductive choices. We recommend health professionals initiate conversations about reproduction early and provide a multidisciplinary approach to pregnancy and IBD in which women have confidence that their ongoing treatment will be integrated successfully with their maternity care.