Abstract
Mothers with intellectual disability (ID) are considered a risk to their infants and often prevented from enjoying the pleasure of being a mother. Inadequate mothering skills may stem not just from low intelligence but also from poor support. The reality in India is that several women with milder forms of ID get married and have pregnancies. Such mothers need to be supported in infant care giving. We describe two mothers who were admitted to the Mother Baby Unit for poor mothering skills. Appropriate psychosocial interventions tailored to the mother’s intelligence levels were implemented. While both women were not able to independently care for their infants, there was considerable improvement in their mothering abilities at discharge. Infants and older children’s needs were also assessed and addressed. Programs tailored to the needs of mother infant dyad when the mother has ID will enhance their quality of life.
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Chandra, P.S., Ragesh, G., Kishore, T. et al. Breaking Stereotypes: Helping Mothers with Intellectual Disability to Care for Their Infants. J. Psychosoc. Rehabil. Ment. Health 4, 111–116 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40737-017-0075-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40737-017-0075-z