Reflections on timing of motherhood - a qualitative online study with women of reproductive age
Abstract Background The age of Danish women giving birth to their first child has risen throughout the last 50 years, and the number of women and men who are having their first child when they are at advanced maternal or paternal age is increasing worldwide. Postponing parenthood is not unique to De...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-11-01
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| Series: | BMC Women's Health |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-024-03409-0 |
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| author | Camilla Gry Temmesen Henriette Svarre Nielsen Kathrine Birch Petersen Jane Clemensen |
| author_facet | Camilla Gry Temmesen Henriette Svarre Nielsen Kathrine Birch Petersen Jane Clemensen |
| author_sort | Camilla Gry Temmesen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The age of Danish women giving birth to their first child has risen throughout the last 50 years, and the number of women and men who are having their first child when they are at advanced maternal or paternal age is increasing worldwide. Postponing parenthood is not unique to Denmark, as the same pattern is seen especially in other European and Western countries. The aim of this study was in a social media setting to explore reflections on the timing of motherhood among Danish women of reproductive age who not yet had children. Method This study was a qualitative study based on three online focus groups on Facebook. Twenty-six women of reproductive age discussed the timing of motherhood for three days in January 2020. Data were analyzed using Systematic Text Condensation. Results Three main themes were identified: ‘Life before parenthood’, ‘To plan for a child’ and ‘A life without children’. Several external and internal conditions influence whether and if so when women consider becoming mothers. Regarding the biological capacity for having children, women compare themselves with their female relatives and friends and colleagues regarding the social norms surrounding motherhood. Women with no children often experience either positive or negative pressure from family, friends, and colleagues regarding when to have children. Conclusion Several internal and external considerations influence when and if women become mothers. Social surroundings such as family, friends, and colleagues have an impact on women’s reproductive considerations in terms of pressure to have children in the future. Danish women tend to compare their reproductive capacity to their female relatives and compare the social norms surrounding motherhood to their female friends. Women in this study were positive towards discussing the timing of motherhood with other women of reproductive age on social media. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4ec7dff4cc2f43b88d888e4c68a0227e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1472-6874 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Women's Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-4ec7dff4cc2f43b88d888e4c68a0227e2024-11-10T12:41:14ZengBMCBMC Women's Health1472-68742024-11-0124111310.1186/s12905-024-03409-0Reflections on timing of motherhood - a qualitative online study with women of reproductive ageCamilla Gry Temmesen0Henriette Svarre Nielsen1Kathrine Birch Petersen2Jane Clemensen3Department of Health & Rehabilitation, University College AbsalonDept. of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Copenhagen University HospitalBirch Gynecology and FertilityInstitute of Clinical Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern DenmarkAbstract Background The age of Danish women giving birth to their first child has risen throughout the last 50 years, and the number of women and men who are having their first child when they are at advanced maternal or paternal age is increasing worldwide. Postponing parenthood is not unique to Denmark, as the same pattern is seen especially in other European and Western countries. The aim of this study was in a social media setting to explore reflections on the timing of motherhood among Danish women of reproductive age who not yet had children. Method This study was a qualitative study based on three online focus groups on Facebook. Twenty-six women of reproductive age discussed the timing of motherhood for three days in January 2020. Data were analyzed using Systematic Text Condensation. Results Three main themes were identified: ‘Life before parenthood’, ‘To plan for a child’ and ‘A life without children’. Several external and internal conditions influence whether and if so when women consider becoming mothers. Regarding the biological capacity for having children, women compare themselves with their female relatives and friends and colleagues regarding the social norms surrounding motherhood. Women with no children often experience either positive or negative pressure from family, friends, and colleagues regarding when to have children. Conclusion Several internal and external considerations influence when and if women become mothers. Social surroundings such as family, friends, and colleagues have an impact on women’s reproductive considerations in terms of pressure to have children in the future. Danish women tend to compare their reproductive capacity to their female relatives and compare the social norms surrounding motherhood to their female friends. Women in this study were positive towards discussing the timing of motherhood with other women of reproductive age on social media.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-024-03409-0TimingPostponingReproductionMotherhoodWomenReproductive age |
| spellingShingle | Camilla Gry Temmesen Henriette Svarre Nielsen Kathrine Birch Petersen Jane Clemensen Reflections on timing of motherhood - a qualitative online study with women of reproductive age BMC Women's Health Timing Postponing Reproduction Motherhood Women Reproductive age |
| title | Reflections on timing of motherhood - a qualitative online study with women of reproductive age |
| title_full | Reflections on timing of motherhood - a qualitative online study with women of reproductive age |
| title_fullStr | Reflections on timing of motherhood - a qualitative online study with women of reproductive age |
| title_full_unstemmed | Reflections on timing of motherhood - a qualitative online study with women of reproductive age |
| title_short | Reflections on timing of motherhood - a qualitative online study with women of reproductive age |
| title_sort | reflections on timing of motherhood a qualitative online study with women of reproductive age |
| topic | Timing Postponing Reproduction Motherhood Women Reproductive age |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-024-03409-0 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT camillagrytemmesen reflectionsontimingofmotherhoodaqualitativeonlinestudywithwomenofreproductiveage AT henriettesvarrenielsen reflectionsontimingofmotherhoodaqualitativeonlinestudywithwomenofreproductiveage AT kathrinebirchpetersen reflectionsontimingofmotherhoodaqualitativeonlinestudywithwomenofreproductiveage AT janeclemensen reflectionsontimingofmotherhoodaqualitativeonlinestudywithwomenofreproductiveage |