Newhouse, Nikki; (2019) bump2bump: Designing and Evaluating Technology to Promote Maternal Wellbeing in the Transition to Motherhood. Doctoral thesis (Ph.D), UCL (University College London).

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Abstract

The notion of wellbeing is synonymous with feeling competent, supported and satisfied with one’s life. Understanding how to sustain one’s own wellbeing is important at times of significant life change. The transition to motherhood is characterised by major emotional and physiological changes, which can impact on maternal subjective wellbeing and affect pregnancy outcomes. While Human Computer Interaction (HCI) has begun to address some of the challenges in the prevention and treatment of affective disorders in vulnerable perinatal groups, approaches that promote holistic maternal wellbeing in the low-risk majority have received less attention. This thesis draws on the multidisciplinary legacy of digital intervention development, utilising best practice from eHealth and HCI. Six studies using quantitative and qualitative methods were conducted. Study 1 was a systematic, interdisciplinary literature review, which proposed an integrated framework of factors involved in the successful development and evaluation of digital perinatal wellbeing resources. Study 2 used qualitative methods to explore the contextualised usage of digital resources by perinatal women. Studies 3, 4 and 5 involved the iterative development and formative evaluation of a prototype (bump2bump). Study 6 used mixed methods to explore the longitudinal, in-the-wild usage of bump2bump by a group of women as they became mothers. This thesis contributes to current discourse in HCI on how technology might be used positively and presents recommendations regarding the development and use of digital resources in first time pregnancy. Digital resources are increasingly relied upon when community services are lacking, and usage of such resources is particularly nuanced at the transition to motherhood. Design features that support users’ trust in content, facilitate face-to-face interaction with local similar others, and provide brief, practical information were found to be most important in meeting user needs. These findings can be used to inform the development and evaluation of digital perinatal wellbeing resources.

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