title: The postnatal support needs of mothers with an intellectual disability.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  there is growing evidence that many parents with intellectual disabilities can parent successfully when given adequate support. This paper aims to explore the postnatal care experiences of mothers with an intellectual disability.
  
  
  METHODS
  a qualitative design was used and data were collected using a semi-structured interview format and analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  the study took place in community settings in Scotland.
  
  
  METHODS
  six mothers with intellectual disabilities were interviewed about their experiences.
  
  
  RESULTS
  two super-ordinate themes are discussed with accompanying subthemes: challenges of providing support and how support was delivered.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  the mothers valued formal postnatal care, but this was secondary to informal support. How mothers perceived the support impacted on its effectiveness and building effective relationships with professionals presented challenges.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  the study suggests the structure and quality of the wider support networks of mothers with an intellectual disability are central and should be taken account of by professionals. Providing information and advice in ways that validates the mother's role is also important, particularly as the mother's perception of how help is given can impact on the degree to which mothers engage with professionals.
authors.affiliation: School of Health in Social Science, Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Teviot Place, Edinburgh EH8 9AG, UK.
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: McKenzie
authors.forename: Ethel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Quayle
authors.forename: George C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Murray
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000523:psychology*; D008425:Maternal Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D057240:Patient Preference; D011181:Postnatal Care / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D058996:Quality Improvement; D012606:Scotland; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires