My ‘normal’ isn't your normal. What is maternal wellbeing? A scoping review

Problem: Many global health strategies are developed to optimise ‘maternal wellbeing’. However, what is meant by this term and therefore how it is interpreted and understood by different groups of people is currently poorly understood. Background: For midwives to provide woman-centred care they must recognise the diverse understandings of what is considered ‘maternal wellbeing’ and be able to identify factors underpinning this. Aim: To identify and synthesise the literature related to the meaning and understanding of the term ‘maternal wellbeing.’ Methods: A search of PubMed, CINAHL Ultimate, OVID and Emcare databases was conducted between 2015 and 2024 for studies related to maternal wellbeing. Data from fourteen studies were charted and thematically analysed. Findings: Two overarching but interrelated themes were identified. One refers to the inner self, and the second to the woman's place in her social world. Theme 1, sense of self, comprises two sub-themes: finding a sense of self and sustaining a sense of self. Theme 2, the sense of place, comprises two sub-themes: sustaining place and making space in place. Discussion: Disconnects between the practice-oriented concept of wellbeing and wellbeing as perceived by women exist. Current maternal wellbeing assessment methods only measure the woman's sense of identity, and sense of self in their changed worlds. Conclusion: Clear articulation of maternal wellbeing is needed to operationalise health strategies, institutional policies, procedures and standards of care that support positive maternal and infant outcomes. Midwives are pivotal to promoting maternal wellbeing during transitions across the pregnancy, birth, and motherhood continuum.