Mothering Occupations Ranked for Maternal Confidence

This study exploring the impact of everyday mothering occupations on maternal confidence may have implications for maternal wellbeing, with New Zealand mothers positioned as experts to rank the occupations that evoke feelings of maternal confidence. This study was investigating general mothering experiences, and therefore did not screen for mothers at risk. Delphi surveys were used as a facilitation technique to reach consensus. Participants (N = 7) were presented with a list of mothering occupations informed by literature and additional items previously identified by participants and asked to rank the items for their efficacy at evoking feelings of maternal confidence. A second ranking round was completed, following the collated response from the first ranking. Consensus was reached between surveys. The top nine of 47 items did not change their ranked positions and a list of the top mothering occupations for evoking maternal confidence, as ranked by a panel of mothers, was developed. This study found that mothers ranked co-occupations and watching their babies highly for evoking feelings of maternal confidence. The influence on maternal confidence of specific occupations and tasks demonstrates the potential value of occupational therapy input during the perinatal phase.