Triumphant Hope
in the Midst
of Despair
Supporting Antepartum Mothers
By Inez B. Cotton
The antepartum/pregnant mother-to-be has thrived through the challenges of Covid-19. Accessibility to healthcare appointments and experiences are linked to family and faith-based visitations, for those on maternal bedrest.
Family history, family dynamics, age, work history, number of children & spousal support, bedrest, and many other factions may come into play during pre-delivery.
The world of the unknown my have some positive as well as negative implications in the life of the pre-term mother.
Her mental picture of how things may go may be realistic or unrealistic. Her financial needs may exceed or fall short about what she will need to adequately thrive.
These entities are related to the Five Theological Themes in the book Triumphant Hope In the Midst of Despair: Supporting Antepartum Mothers by Inez B. Cotton, 2019, Chapter 4.
Is the mother-to-be or are enablers disregarding nutrition needs?
Many publications, Non-profit institutions, clinics, community & global Web Sites, and other resources & help desks are available for use.
Is the mother aware of supportive resources & people available to help?
Most antepartum mothers have strong faith-based beliefs. When established healthcare conditions are present. “Churchy” talk is at best, when introduced by the mother-to-be, alone. Her major concerns in the moment revolve around her child or how her own prognosis will affect how they are both thriving in the moment.
Pregnant mothers anticipate successful births. Many health care truths are revealed through sonograms, protein levels, & a plethora of other prognoses. Balancing the expectations with realities can be hard to process for the patient, family, friends, & hospital staff.
Emergency room visits may include, a prognosis of mandatory bedrest, false labor, or healthcare issues related or unrelated to the illnesses of the mother or baby-to-be.
Those on whose shoulders she is standing.
The personal grit of the patient, former teachers, faith-based mentors, significant family members, friends, institutions and other entities contribute to the well-being of the antepartum mother. See the back of the book (Triumphant Hope In the Midst of Despair: Supporting Antepartum Mothers, Inez B. Cotton 2019), detailing photographs of those who supported the author throughout her life experiences.
Compassionate care & TLC help patients’ vulnerability to negative self-talk or vague interpersonal communication is crucial to her emotional stability.
The reality of the daily demands on healthcare workers helps patients identify with the needs of like patients and promotes increased self reliance.
Pregnant mothers seldom want long lectures about their health or what they should be doing to better themselves. They rely on the healthcare team for that. They are best mentored with words of encouragement and general positivity. Visitors do well to temper, and perceive well, the length of their visits. Good, well thought out questions, and increased listening skills help the patient process & benefit from these kind of dialogues.
Emotional discomfort may arise from her grave prognosis for herself & her baby-to-be, family & friend relationship issues, faith-based questions, spiritual distress, child care, schooling, job & other financial issues.
Family, Friends, Visitors & the patient herself will do well to have some semblance of trust based on collective conversations that are supported by all involved in decision-making. This is not blind trust. Rather following the plan of care defined by the health care team and support of others add to the patient’s well-being.
Visitors should seek to bring some sense of normalcy to the room. While not offering false hope, after sad news has been reported to her from the healthcare team, the antepartum mother, needs something tangible to lift her spirits. The hospital staff will continue after the patients return home with a douable plan of care.
This is a visual of the support an antepartum mother will need as she approaches the finish line/ moving toward the birth of her baby. She will need her authentic self, support from her family, friends, faith-based and community organizations and other entities that line up perfectly with her dreams and life aspirations.
Get the Book
The term “antepartum” is not often used but is crucial to understand. It refers to the period in pregnancy before a birth. Antepartum mothers have unique needs that are often ignored by chaplains and others in ministry. Inez Cotton, working with hospital chaplains, developed a procedure and resources to benefit future mothers. “Triumphant Hope in the Midst of Despair” describes the process used to develop these resources and how they were implemented in a hospital setting.
This book is a valuable resource, not only for hospital chaplains, but for everyone who desires to minister to an antepartum mother, including pastors, church staff, family, and friends.
As a chaplain and educator, Inez Cotton presents her book to several audiences. Aimed at supporting hospital patients that are with child, Cotton journals her doctoral thesis chronicling leadership and supportive spiritual, theological principles and encouragement tactics for the family, church, and other community venues. Written from a Christian perspective, “Triumphant Hope in the Midst of Despair” welcomes and challenges us to listen more and garner new avenues of hope and affirmation to women who are anticipating birth. The book provides several creative activities for support systems needed for a group of women who are often silent “ladies in waiting.”
About Dr. Inez Cotton
Inez Cotton is a retired Chaplain, Minister, Christian Educator, Motivational Speaker, and an Ordained Preacher from Virginia. She and her family currently reside in Dallas where she is a member and Sunday School teacher at Singing Hills Baptist Church. Inez holds a Bachelor of Fine Art in Art Education from Virginia Commonwealth University, a Master of Arts in Communication Degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry from B.H. Carroll Theological Institute. She serves as a Pastoral Care Support Team volunteer, mentors Texas Baptist Chaplains, and is a current member of the BGCT Endorsement Council.
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