title: A Narrative of Fear: Advice to Mothers.
abstract: Taking present-day research into so-called new momism and intense mothering as a starting point, this article argues that the current mothering discourse, rather than articulating a new phenomenon, perpetuates a regulative discourse developed in the nineteenth century, in advice books written by medical doctors for pregnant women and new mothers. Both the Victorian and the present-day texts play on feelings of guilt and inadequacy in order to control the actions and emotions of mothers, although the threatened outcome differs: present-day mothers are warned that their children may become obese or develop neuropsychological disorders, whereas Victorian mothers are warned that their children might die.
authors.forename: Berit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Åström
mesh_terms: D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006167:Guilt; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D008093:Literature, Modern / Q000266:history*; D008513:Medicine in Literature; D009034:Mother-Child Relations / Q000523:psychology*; D016487:Parenting / Q000266:history* / Q000523:psychology; D011247:Pregnancy