Motherhood, in the context of Women's Reproductive Health, encompasses the biological, psychological, and social dimensions of becoming and being a mother, spanning conception, pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum and early parenting periods. Beyond the physiology of gestation and birth, it involves the mental …
Motherhood, in the context of Women's Reproductive Health, encompasses the biological, psychological, and social dimensions of becoming and being a mother, spanning conception, pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum and early parenting periods. Beyond the physiology of gestation and birth, it involves the mental health and identity transformations that accompany the transition to the maternal role, including the reorganisation of self-concept among first-time and adolescent mothers. Research in this area examines the relationship between attitudes and beliefs about motherhood, perfectionism during pregnancy, and the risk of postpartum depression, as well as the support needs of women in early labour and during the perinatal period. It also addresses preconception care, antenatal service utilisation, and the broader determinants of maternal wellbeing, recognising that maternal health shapes outcomes for both mother and child. Contemporary scholarship extends to reproductive choices that influence the timing and possibility of motherhood, including elective oocyte freezing and interventions for ovarian ageing and premature ovarian insufficiency. Social context, education, and access to care strongly modulate maternal experiences, particularly for women navigating pregnancy in demanding environments or facing additional health burdens. By integrating clinical, psychological, and social perspectives, the study of motherhood seeks to support healthy pregnancies, positive maternal mental health, and informed reproductive decision-making across diverse populations and life circumstances.
10 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.
The 10 articles above have been cited 49 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.
A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Motherhood, linking to each citing work.