The constitution of motherhood and the mother-baby relationship in the context of Near Miss Maternal Morbidity: narrative review

Abstract

The constitution of motherhood begins before pregnancy and intensifies during this period, based on emotional, physical and social transformations. This process to become a mother is fundamental to the mother-baby relationship, which is essential to the health and development of the child. Maternal near miss refer to women who almost died during pregnancy, childbirth or the puerperium and survived. Consequently, the near miss can imposes adverse conditions for mothers and their babies. Thus, the present study aimed to systematize knowledge about the constitution of motherhood in women who went through near miss and to understand the mother-baby relationship in this context. We conducted a literature review in the electronic databases LILACS, SciELO, PsycINFO, MEDLINE, PePSIC, SCOPUS and CINAHL. The results showed that the near miss brings new demands to women who are becoming a mother, such as the fear of death and losing the child. From the critical review of the literature on scientific bases, it was identified that impacts as difficulty in breastfeeding and bonding with the child can be experienced. Challenges are discussed regarding the specificities of motherhood after the near miss from a psychological point of view.