Maternal Adaptation during Pregnancy 2. Beth (age 18) is experiencing her first pregnancy and is now 24 weeks gestation. She tells you that she is “amazed by the changes that have happened to my body already.” Beth wants to understand what additional changes are going to occur to her “besides just getting a really huge belly.” Additionally, Beth relates to you that she is in her senior year of high school, is no longer involved with the baby’s father, and lives at home with her mother and 12-year-old brother. (Learning Objectives 3 and 5) Explain to Beth (in terms she can understand) what general body adaptations she will experience throughout the remainder of her pregnancy. What psychosocial adaptations may Beth experience as a result of being a teenage, single mother living at home?

The Psychosocial Adaptations that Beth May Experience as a Result of Being a Teenage, Single Mother Living at Home

Beth being a teenager and a single mother living at home can lead her to numerous psychosocial adaptations. As a single mother, Beth can experience an intensified feeling of responsibility and is insistent on providing for her baby, and she still has challenges as she wants to complete her high school education (Lavie, 2018). This may make Beth feel overburdened and stressed because she may not get the appropriate financial and emotional support that she would get if she married or she had a family, and she may even feel isolated as she strives to complete her studies and at the same time provide for her baby. Beth is a teenager and still at school, and being a mother her age can make her feel ashamed as society does not appreciate teenage pregnancy placing a negative stigma and making her have low self-esteem. Beth can evacuate from social situations, which can have a negative impact on her health as she may feel that she is not capable of maintaining a healthy relationship as she is a single mother (Kumar et al., 2018). Her parent and siblings may provide her and the baby with support and the same time, feel frustrated with the additional responsibility of caring for a newborn baby, which eventually can make Beth experience trouble with her family members making her feel guilty for the additional responsibility affecting communication between Beth and her family. Beth, a single mother living at home, can result in numerous psychosocial adaptations impacting her mental and overall health. Beth needs to seek support from individuals she trusts, like healthcare providers and mentors, to help her overcome the challenges, providing her with resources to thrive as a single mother and a student.

Conclusion

Maternity, newborn, and women’s health nursing are vital elements of healthcare for women and their families. During pregnancy, women encounter numerous physical changes essential for the development of their unborn babies. Beth, a teenager and a single mother who lives at home may encounter psychosocial adaptations impacting her emotional well-being. Healthcare providers need to support women such as Beth by offering them education and resources to handle the changes, ensuring the best outcomes for the mother and the baby, and jointly working of healthcare providers can enable women to experience a positive pregnancy and a positive childbirth experience.

References

Kumar, M., Huang, K. Y., Othieno, C., Wamalwa, D., Madeghe, B., Osok, J., … & McKay, M. M. (2018). Adolescent pregnancy and challenges in Kenyan context: perspectives from multiple community stakeholders. Global Social Welfare, 5, 11-27. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40609-017-0102-8

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