title: Facilitating and inhibiting factors in transition to parenthood - ways in which health professionals can support parents.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The transition to parenthood is an overwhelming life event. From a theoretical perspective, transition to parenthood is a developmental transition that contains certain phases and patterns.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aim was twofold (i) discover, describe and comprehend transitional conditions that parents perceive as facilitating and inhibiting during transition to parenthood and to (ii) use that knowledge to develop recommendations for professional interventions that support and facilitate transition to parenthood.
  
  
  METHODS
  Meleis transition theory framed the study's deductive qualitative approach - from planning to analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a secondary analysis, data were analysed (as per Meleis transition theory) from two studies that implemented interviews with 60 parents in Sweden between 2013 and 2014. Interview questions dealt with parents' experiences of the transition to parenthood - in relation to experiences with parent-education groups, professional support and continuity after childbirth.
  
  
  METHODS
  A university research ethics board has approved the research.
  
  
  RESULTS
  These factors facilitated transition to parenthood: perceiving parenthood as a normal part of life; enjoying the child's growth; being prepared and having knowledge; experiencing social support; receiving professional support, receiving information about resources within the health care; participating in well-functioning parent-education groups; and hearing professionals comment on gender differences as being complementary. These factors inhibited transition to parenthood: having unrealistic expectations; feeling stress and loss of control; experiencing breastfeeding demands and lack of sleep; facing a judgmental attitude about breastfeeding; being unprepared for reality; lacking information about reality; lacking professional support and information; lacking healthcare resources; participating in parent-education groups that did not function optimally; and hearing professionals accentuate gender differences in a problematic way.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Transition theory is appropriate for helping professionals understand and identify practices that might support parents during transition to parenthood. The study led to certain recommendations that are important for professionals to consider.
authors.affiliation: Department of Women's and Children's Health, Division of Reproductive Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Mia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barimani
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Center for Family and Community Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vikström
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, Linkoping, Sweden.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rosander
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, Linkoping, Sweden.
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Forslund Frykedal
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Center for Family and Community Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berlin
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D010290:Parents; D013548:Sweden
keywords: deductive qualitative study; midwives; primary child healthcare nurses; transition to parenthood