First-time mums find solidarity through shared experiences

First-time mothers appear to develop a social bond with other mums who’ve experienced difficult childbirths, which can often be a challenging and isolating experience. Researchers looked at “identity fusion”, or feelings of oneness or solidarity with a group, in a sample of more than 160 US women who had either given birth for the first time or were pregnant with their first child. The mums who thought their childbirth was more painful than a typical birth reported having more of a social connection with other mums who also felt the same about their birthing experience. The study authors say more work should be done to see how this kind of bonding could be used to improve mental health.