a. Pregnancy is usually not planned by the single mother.

Many times, the nursing staff does not know the true cause of the pregnancy. Pregnancy may result from teenage pregnancy, incest, rape, failure of a birth control method, or pregnancy conceived prior to a divorce. Lack of planning may impact on the mother’s ability to care for the infant and the other’s readiness to want to care for an infant.

b. Considerable time should be spent with the patient. Do not be judgmental. Offer kindness and understanding, attend to her postpartum needs, and evaluate maternal-infant adaptation responses.

(1) If the single mother is keeping the infant, the nurse should teach basic infant care skills, encourage positive maternal-infant adaptation responses, and provide resources for assistance in the community.

(2) If placing the infant for adoption, the nurse should provide emotional support, use individual assessment of each mother in determining if mother and infant should be separated, and allow the mother and family to do caretaking activities. An emotionally healthy mother with the support of family and staff may work through this crisis better if allowed to do caretaking activities for her baby.

c. The social worker or community health nurse can help solve problems with income, employment, childcare, transportation, emotional support, and assistance in the home.

d. Considerations for discharge planning. Make discharge plans based on the patient’s age, maturity level, knowledge level, and maternal-infant adaptation process during hospital stay. A significant concern should be availability and support of family, relatives, friends, knowledge level, and maternal-infant adaptations process during the hospital stay.