title: Gulf Arab women's transition to motherhood.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This paper is a report of the findings of a study of Gulf Arab women's perspectives of the transition to motherhood.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Transition to motherhood is a universal phenomenon in which every culture has its own expectations and varying supports for women moving through this transition. International studies have provided models or categories of maternal responses related to cultural aspects of transition to motherhood. However, no known research has focused on transition to motherhood among Gulf Arab women.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the initial cohort seventeen first time Gulf Arab mothers in the United Arab Emirates were interviewed during the following three times: before childbirth, two-four weeks after childbirth, and forty-days after childbirth. A second cohort of seventeen first time new mothers was interviewed after childbirth in Sultanate of Oman.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four patterns were identified as indicators of change as women transitioned into motherhood: 1) Women's personal transition: women changed from feeling of freedom to feeling of dependency to self-confidence. 2) Mother/baby relationships: women changed from fear, anxiety, and uncertainty to feelings of care and confidence. 3) Family influences: women experienced family support to being integrated and feeling respected by family. 4) Cultural/religious beliefs and practices: women felt they were initially observers of culture, to experiencing cultural/religious beliefs and practices. This was followed by accomplishment in childbearing and childrearing practices.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As Gulf Arab new mothers made the transition to motherhood, four implications for international nursing practice emerged: 1) patient teaching to help relieve anxiety, fears, and uncertainty, 2) facilitation of mother/baby relationships, 3) family-centered care, and 4) the importance of cultural/religious beliefs and practices to new mothers.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing at Bethel University, 3900 Bethel Drive, St Paul, MN 55112, USA. bmissal@bethel.edu
authors.forename: Bernita
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Missal
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000208:ethnology; D018912:Arabs / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005195:Family Relations / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000208:ethnology*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D012649:Self Concept; D012944:Social Support; D014479:United Arab Emirates; D055815:Young Adult