Motherhood (6do encyclopedia)



Motherhood refers to the state of being a mother or the experience of raising a child. It is a complex and multifaceted experience that is both rewarding and challenging. The experience of motherhood is different for every woman, and the role of a mother varies widely across cultures and time periods.

While motherhood has always been an integral part of human existence, the way society views motherhood has changed dramatically over time. In the past, motherhood was often seen as a women’s primary role in life, and her success as a mother was judged primarily by her ability to produce children and raise them to adulthood.

Today, motherhood is often paired with other roles, such as career aspirations and personal goals. This has led to new challenges for women who struggle to balance the demands of motherhood with their other responsibilities.

Despite these challenges, many women find motherhood to be a deeply rewarding experience. It is a time of personal growth, deepening love and commitment, and the opportunity to impart important values and life lessons to the next generation.

Types of Motherhood

There are many types of motherhood, including biological motherhood, adoptive motherhood, and foster motherhood.

Biological motherhood refers to the experience of giving birth to a child. This is a unique experience that only women can experience. During pregnancy, the body undergoes many changes, including hormonal changes and shifts in bodily organs to accommodate the growing fetus. The pressures of childbirth and the early days of motherhood can be a challenging time for new mothers, but it is also a time of deep bonding and learning.

Adoptive motherhood refers to the experience of raising a child that is not biologically related to the mother. This can occur through private or public adoptions, and the experience can be just as rewarding as traditional motherhood.

Foster motherhood refers to the experience of raising a child that is not related to the mother. This is typically a short-term arrangement, and the goal is typically to return the child to their biological family. However, foster motherhood can be a challenging and rewarding experience for women who want to make a difference in the lives of children.

Challenges of Motherhood

Motherhood is not without its challenges. Many women struggle with the demands of caring for a child while also trying to pursue their career and personal goals. This can lead to feelings of guilt and inadequacy.

In addition, many mothers experience postpartum depression, which is a type of depression that occurs after childbirth. This can make it difficult for new mothers to enjoy the early days of motherhood and bond with their child.

Another challenge of motherhood is the pressure to be the perfect mother. Society often sets unrealistic expectations for mothers, such as being able to balance a full-time career while also caring for a child and maintaining a perfect home. This pressure can be overwhelming and can lead to feelings of anxiety and stress.

Benefits of Motherhood

Despite the challenges, motherhood is also a deeply rewarding experience. It provides women with the opportunity to create a lasting, loving bond with their child and to impart important values and life lessons. Motherhood also provides women with a sense of purpose and fulfillment that is hard to replicate in other areas of life.

Research also suggests that motherhood can provide health benefits. Studies have shown that women who have children have a reduced risk of heart disease and some types of cancer.

Conclusion

Motherhood is a complex and multifaceted experience that is both rewarding and challenging. It is a time of personal growth, deepening love and commitment, and the opportunity to impart important values and life lessons to the next generation. While motherhood is not without its challenges, many women find it to be one of the most fulfilling experiences of their lives.


Disclaimer
6do Encyclopedia represents the inaugural AI-driven knowledge repository, and we cordially invite all community users to collaborate and contribute to the enhancement of its accuracy and completeness.
Should you identify any inaccuracies or discrepancies, we respectfully request that you promptly bring these to our attention. Furthermore, you are encouraged to engage in dialogue with the 6do AI chatbot for clarifications.
Please be advised that when utilizing the resources provided by 6do Encyclopedia, users must exercise due care and diligence with respect to the information contained therein. We expressly disclaim any and all legal liabilities arising from the use of such content.

No more lame excuses: why it’s important to man up this Mother’s Day

The Sydney Morning Herald

23-05-12 20:00


As Mother's Day approaches, the author argues that mothers are having a rough time of it at the moment, with many struggling to make ends meet and carrying the family's mental load. However, despite this, in some families, partners and husbands are choosing to be hurtful by not acknowledging the day. The author continues to argue that men should take the opportunity of Mother's Day to show the mothers in their lives special love, to take the focus off themselves and place it on someone else and to model for their children how to love a partner. The author stresses that both the mother of their children and their own mother deserve to feel appreciated on Sunday, without the need for expensive gifts.

https://www.smh.com.au/national/western-australia/no-more-lame-excuses-why-it-s-important-to-man-up-this-mother-s-day-20230511-p5d7nr.html
More breastfeeding help vital, say mothers

BBC

23-05-12 19:05


Mothers are calling for greater education during pregnancy and community service funding for breastfeeding mothers in Wales. Such funding support and education will help to ensure longer breastfeeding for newborns. The Welsh government aims to support new mothers to breastfeed their children for greater periods of time, however, Welsh government figures show that since 2014 the figure has remained the same, with 63.4% of new-borns being breastfed but the figure falling to 24.7% for six-month-old babies. Catrin Roberts, a midwife, highlights the importance of educating mothers during pregnancy and listening to new mothers to encourage breastfeeding.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-65571851
The place where women go to dream of being mothers

The Sydney Morning Herald

23-05-12 19:00


The Stillbirth and Reproductive Loss Clinic in Melbourne, Australia, offers specialist support for women who have suffered the heartbreak of stillbirth or miscarriage. Created by Dr Elizabeth McCarthy, the clinic is a "one-stop shop" designed to offer pre-pregnancy advice, investigation, and extra support during pregnancy. Staffed by a team of obstetricians, midwives, and psychologists, the clinic is unique in Melbourne, offering high-risk counseling, debrief sessions, and psychiatric care all in one facility. Women who attend have all faced the tragedy of reproductive loss, with many struggling to find their way to motherhood. Despite the difficult emotions and mental health issues that many carry, the clinic remains a beacon of hope for women and their partners, with many going on to conceive and birth healthy children. Dr McCarthy hopes that clinics such as the STAR Clinic and the Rainbow Clinic in Manchester will serve as role models for maternity care teams worldwide.

https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/health-and-wellness/the-place-where-women-go-to-dream-of-being-mothers-20230511-p5d7r4.html
The ‘momfluencers’ have ruined Mother’s Day

The Globe and Mail

23-05-12 11:00


Canadian author Sara Petersen examines the growing popularity of so-called “momfluencers” in her new book, Momfluenced. These mothers use Instagram to present an idealised image of their lifestyles, typically featuring colour, joy and happiness, with some able to make a living from their followings. Petersen sought to explore the appeal of momfluencers and to examine how the trend reflects social attitudes towards motherhood. She argues that the depiction of motherhood that they represent is “aspirational” but may also lead to disappointment, inadequacy and fear. Petersen also highlights that the economics of the trend are underpinned by unpaid labour carried out mainly by women, while the most successful momfluencers are likely to be white, thin, attractive and wealthy. However, Petersen refers to recent efforts to increase the diversity of influencers so as to reflect other racial backgrounds and marginalised communities.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/style/article-momfluencers-instagram-mothers-day/
Twelve books that capture the fabulous and fraught nature of motherhood

The Globe and Mail

23-05-12 10:00


Ahead of Mother's Day, The Globe and Mail has published a reading list of recent books by Canadian authors that focus on motherhood. The recommended titles of fiction, memoir and essays include Margaret Atwood's short-story collection "Old Babes in the Wood", but with a section titled "My Evil Mother" readers may want to check their mood before diving in. In "Hold My Girl", Charlene Carr tells the story of two women finding themselves unexpectedly connected through fertility treatment, while Pauline Holdstock's "Confessions with Keith" follows the story of Vita, a woman dealing with an unexpected plot twist after 20 years of marriage. The list also includes memoirs, such as "Wine Witch on Fire" by Natalie MacLean and "Holden After & Before: Love Letter for a Son Lost to Overdose" by Tara McGuire, as well as essay collections, including "Superfan: How Pop Culture Broke My Heart" by Jen Sookfong Lee and "Navigating the Messy Middle: A Fiercely Honest and Wildly Encouraging Guide for Midlife Women" by Ann Douglas.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books/article-motherhood-books-fiction-nonfiction/
Women aren’t ‘forgetting’ to have children – it’s just become financially crippling to do so

Telegraph

23-05-16 07:00


The falling birth rate in the UK is concerning politicians and far-right groups, which could have serious long-term economic implications. Miriam Cates MP said at a conference last week that the falling birth rate posed a bigger threat to the West than Russia, China or climate change. However, the decline in fertility rates is due to a plethora of factors including the high costs of childcare, an inability to afford a home, and a shortage of men who want to parent. Countries like Norway and Sweden, which offer better childcare and have fewer gender disparities, have not experienced the same decline in birth rates.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/columnists/2023/05/16/the-real-reason-we-arent-having-babies-anymore/
A Fleabag type faces impending motherhood in new Australian play

The Sydney Morning Herald

23-05-18 02:25


Pony is a humorous one-woman play by Eloise Snape that taps into the anxieties of an expectant mother who has lived a hedonistic life. The play is set on a stage dominated by a pink pony, and Hazel tells her story directly to the audience, introducing a cast of characters including Hazel’s nanna, best friend, midwife and gym instructor. The production is directed with imagination by Anthea Williams, and Briallen Clarke delivers a fine performance. While the script has some superfluous elements, including gags about bodily fluids and new uses for Nutella, it shines with an “exuberant” quality that tackles life’s messiness.

https://www.smh.com.au/culture/theatre/pony-theatre-review-eloise-snape-anthea-williams-new-australian-play-20230516-p5d8op.html
‘I was just babysitting her for you – in the womb’

The Sydney Morning Herald

23-05-19 01:00


Cayla George, a professional basketball player, reveals how she and her sister-in-law, Serina George, came to honour the Torres Strait tradition of “island adoption”. Following George's struggles with infertility and IVF treatments, her sister-in-law told her and her husband that she would like to gift them a child, and in this case a baby girl called Pearl. The transplant is the highest form of respect within the Torres Strait culture, and was recently recognised and legislated with the Meriba Omasker Kaziw Kazipa Act 2020, which allows island adoption in Queensland.

https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/life-and-relationships/i-was-just-babysitting-her-for-you-in-the-womb-20230405-p5cyfp.html