Edelman Motherhood

Throughout every person’s lifespan, growth and development transpire in stages. Some of these stages may occur in leaps and bounds; while, others may sneak in quietly and would go unnoticed for some time. The phenomenon of growth and development is clearly seen in a woman’s lifespan that culminates in giving life to another human being. Prior to the actual giving birth, a woman’s path to motherhood is shaped and conditioned by “the way in which society in general and her culture in particular perceive motherhood and the role of women, as well as the way in which her own views mesh with these perceptions, will affect the ease of the transition” (Edelman, Kudzma, & Mandle, 2014, p. 369).

From ancient times, women had been perceived as the caretakers of the family (The Author, 2010). The physiological and emotional make up of a woman, dispose her to magnificently take on the role of motherhood. The care of the family always takes precedence and the woman’s needs would always come last (The Author, 2010). However, there is a time in a woman’s life, that for once, she would be the focus of attention and the recipient of care - pregnancy. Long before the actual birth, the woman is
The preconception care of a woman would not only “improve the outcomes of pregnancy, but also the overall health of the woman as well” (Edelman, et al., 2014, p. 255). The nurse plays a major role in the care