Expectations of Motherhood and Quality of Life.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine 1) discrepancies between expectations of motherhood and the experience of motherhood in the first 6 to 12 weeks postpartum, 2) relationships between maternal quality of life, mood, parental attitudes, and expectations, and 3) predictors of quality of life. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: We used a descriptive, correlational design. The sample consisted of first-time mothers who were at or beyond 34 weeks pregnant with no reported history of anxiety or depression. The following questionnaires were administered during pregnancy and 6 to 12 weeks postpartum: Parenting Expectations Measure, General Anxiety Disorder 7, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Screen, Intensive Parenting Attitudes Questionnaire, and Ferrans and Powers Quality of Life Index. RESULTS: Sixty-one mothers participated. Based on scores from the Parenting Expectations Measure, 44% of participants had expectations of motherhood that were not met. Expectations were a significant predictor of quality of life during pregnancy and postpartum. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Unmet expectations are important to understand when identifying modifiable risk factors of postpartum anxiety and depression in women without other risk factors. A discussion of expectations during antepartum care may minimize poor quality of life which is associated with anxiety and depression in women without anxiety and depressive symptoms.

Military Medics' Insight Into Providing Women's Health Care in Deployed Settings.

OBJECTIVES: To gain better understanding of the military medics' (Navy Independent Duty Corpsman, Air Force Independent Duty Medical Technician, and Army Health Care Specialist, experiences providing health care for women in the deployed or ship setting. METHODS: The researchers used an exploratory, descriptive design informed by ethnography. A total of 86 individuals participated in the focus group and individual interviews. RESULTS: Three themes were identified: Training Fidelity, Advocate Leader, and The Challenges of Providing Patient Care. DISCUSSION: Experience in austere settings has convinced a number of medics they need additional women's health care topics in every facet of their training. They further suggested such training should be provided in stepwise fashion, beginning with initial, technical training courses and continuing through medical skills sustainment platforms. They were especially interested in basic women's health concerns. Topics suggested included vaginal infections, urinary tract infections, and birth control management. CONCLUSIONS: Although the advancement of women in the military continues to make strides-it is clear the availability of quality women's health care that women feel comfortable accessing may be its defining limitation. Medics are an excellent conduit for reinforcing these healthy messages and providing first-line treatment to deployed military women.

Humanitarian nursing challenges: a grounded theory study.

In response to the 2004 tsunami disaster in the Indian Ocean, the U.S. Navy deployed teams aboard the USNS Mercy to provide aid during Operation Unified Assistance (OUA). To date, few research studies have examined how Navy nurses prepared for and clinically performed during this relief operation. The current article describes the challenges faced by Navy nurses throughout OUA. A purposive convenience sample was recruited; 11 participated. Data were collected from interviews, observations, field notes, memos, and a demographic tool. Information was categorized, coded, compared to incoming data, then analyzed using Strauss and Corbin's open coding, axial coding, and selective coding methods. A theoretical model was developed to illustrate how participants experienced the mission. Key lessons learned were that most were unprepared for providing pediatric care, and saying "No" in delivering care. Recommendations include: deployment of advanced-practice nurses (specialists in pediatrics and well-mental health) and predeployment training on moral distress.