Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Through the Lens of Trauma: The Experience of Mothering a Very Premature Infant in the First Year After Hospital Discharge

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
The Existential Crisis of Motherhood

Abstract

This chapter explores the experience of mothering after the trauma of a very premature birth. Based on recent phenomenological research, it discusses how the emotional repercussions of a very premature birth can influence the way that the mothering relationship and the mother’s identity develop during the first year after hospital discharge. The research findings are explored from an existential perspective drawing on relevant existential theory. Whilst the research includes a broad view of the overall experience in the first year after hospital, this chapter focuses on the development of the mothering identity and the evolvement of the bonding process during this period.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Arnold-Baker, C. (2015). How Becoming a Mother Involves a Confrontation with Existence: An Existential-Phenomenological Exploration of the Experience of Early Motherhood (Doctorate). Middlesex University London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beck, C. (2004). Birth Trauma. Nursing Research,53(1), 28–35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beck, C., Driscoll, J., & Watson, S. (2013). Traumatic childbirth. Oxon: Routledge.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Buber, M., & Smith, R. (2000). I and thou. Scribner.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooper, M. (2003). Existential Therapies. London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Golish, T., & Powell, K. (2003). ‘Ambiguous Loss’: Managing the Dialectics of Grief Associated with Premature Birth. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships,20(3), 309–334.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gunter, J. (2010). The Preemie Primer. Cambridge, MA: Da Capo Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hall, E., Kronborg, H., Aagaard, H., & Brinchmann, B. (2013). The Journey Towards Motherhood After a Very Preterm Birth: Mothers’ Experiences in Hospital and After Home-Coming. Journal of Neonatal Nursing,19(3), 109–113.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hall, S., Ryan, D., Beatty, J., & Grubbs, L. (2015). Recommendations for Peer-to-Peer Support for NICU Parents. Journal of Perinatology,35(S1), S9–S13.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heidegger, M., & Stambaugh, J. (1996). Being and Time. Albany: State University of New York Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman, L., & Vallejos, L. (2019). Existential Shattering. In Encyclopedia of Psychology and Religion (pp. 1–4). Cham: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ionio, C., Lista, G., Mascheroni, E., Olivari, M., Confalonieri, E., Mastrangelo, M., et al. (2017). Premature Birth: Complexities and Difficulties in Building the Mother–Child Relationship. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 35(5), 509–523.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jaspers, K. (1951). Way to Wisdom. New Haven: Yale University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Merleau-Ponty, M. (2012). The Phenomenology of Perception (D. Landes, Ed.). New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sartre, J. P. (2003). Being and Nothingness (S. Richmond, Trans.). Oxon: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shulman, R. (2020). Using Trauma as a Lens to Explore the Experience of Mothering a Very Premature Infant in the First Year After Hospital Discharge (Unpublished DCPsych thesis), Middlesex University, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sluiter, S. (2013). Looking Through the Trauma Lens. Ann Arbor: Loving Healing Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spinelli, M., Frigerio, A., Montali, L., Fasolo, M., Spada, M., & Mangili, G. (2015). “I Still Have Difficulties Feeling Like a Mother”: The Transition to Motherhood of Preterm Infants’ Mothers. Psychology & Health, 1–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tillich, P. (1952). The Courage to Be. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • van Deurzen, E. (2012). Existential Counselling & Psychotherapy in Practice. London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • van Deurzen, E., & Adams, M. (2015). Skills in Existential Counselling & Psychotherapy. London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yalom, I. (1980). Existential Psychotherapy. USA: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. London, UK

    Romy Shulman

Authors
  1. Romy Shulman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. The New School of Psychotherapy and Counselling, London, UK

    Claire Arnold-Baker

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Shulman, R. (2020). Through the Lens of Trauma: The Experience of Mothering a Very Premature Infant in the First Year After Hospital Discharge. In: Arnold-Baker, C. (eds) The Existential Crisis of Motherhood. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-56499-5_7

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation