Women's experiences of the transition to motherhood and self-compassion

Abstract

Health visitors have a pivotal role in supporting women in their transition to motherhood, equipping them with the necessary skills and knowledge to help them cope and thrive. This review was conducted to appraise the current literature around the role of self-compassion in the transition to motherhood and women's experiences of this, as well as the effectiveness of self-compassion on women's psychological wellbeing in this transition. Databases were searched against an inclusion criterion and 11 studies were selected for review. Review findings give insights into how self-compassion practices can aid the transition to motherhood by mitigating psychological challenges and promoting maternal wellbeing and mother–infant bonding. Self-compassion training opportunities should be provided to health visitors and other health professionals working with women from pregnancy, to competently deliver and facilitate such interventions.