N216 OB Ch 22 Transition to Parenthood Flashcards
attachment, bonding
process by which a parent comes to love and accept a child and a child comes to love and accept a parent.
acquaintance
process that occurs as parents interact with their newborn and maintain close proximity as they identify the infant as an individual and claim him or her as a member of the family.
mutuality
infant behaviors and characteristics call forth a corresponding set of parental behavior and characteristics.
signaling behaviors
infant behaviors such as crying, smiling, and cooing that initiate the contact and bring the caregiver to the child.
executive behaviors
infant behaviors such as rooting, grasping, and postural adjustments that maintain the contact.
claiming
process in which parents identify the new baby, first in terms of likeness to other family members, then in terms of differences, and finally in terms of uniqueness.
en face (face to face)
position used for mutual gazing in which the parent’s face and the infant’s face are approximately 20 cm (8 in) apart and are on the same plane.
entrainment
newborns move in time with the structure of adult speech by waving their arms, lifting their heads, and kicking their legs, seemingly “dancing in tune” to a parent’s voice.
biorhythmicity
personal biorhythm developed by the infant; parents facilitate this process by giving consistent loving care and using their infant’s alert state to develop responsive behavior and thereby increase social interaction and opportunities for learning.
reciprocity
type of body movement or behavior that provides the observer with cues. the observer or receiver interprets those cues and responds to them.
synchrony
the “fit” between the infant’s cues and the parent’s response.
transition to parenthood
period from the decision to conceive through the first months of having a child.
dependent (taking-in)
phase of maternal adjustment that occurs during the first 24 hours (range of 1-2 days) when the woman focuses on herself and meeting basic needs with a reliance on others for comfort, rest, closeness, and nourishment. she is often talkative and desires to discuss her childbirth experience.
dependent-independent (taking-hold)
phase of maternal adjustment that begins on the second or third day postpartum and lasts for about 10 days to several weeks during which the woman focuses on caring for her baby and becoming competent as a mother; she is eager to learn and to practice and may experience baby blues.
interdependent (letting-go)
phase of maternal adjustment during which the woman reasserts her relationship with her partner and resumes sexual intimacy.
becoming a mother
process of transformation and growth of the mother identity during which the woman learns new skills and increases her confidence in herself as she meets new challenges in caring for her child(ren).
maternal sensitivity
the quality of a mother’s sensitive behaviors that are based on her awareness, perception, and responsiveness to infant cues and behaviors.
engagement
social process in maternal transition during which the woman makes a commitment to being a mother, actively cares for her child, and experiences his or her presence.
experiencing herself as a mother
social process in maternal transition during which the woman learns how to mother and adapt to a changed relationship with her partner, family, and friends; she examines herself in relation to the past and present and comse to view herself as a mother.
“pink” period
period surrounding the first day or two of birth, characterized by heightened joys and feeling of well being.
“blue” period
period following birth that is characterized by emotional lability, depression, a let-down feeling, restlessness, fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, sadness, and anger. lability peaks around the fifth day postpartum and subsides by the tenth day.
engrossment
father’s absorption, preoccupation, and interest in his infant.
