Art-based interventions during pregnancy to support women's wellbeing: An integrative review.

Background: The transition to motherhood is a dynamic experience. Antenatal care and education are designed to support women during pregnancy, however childbearing women often report a further need for emotional and social support beyond preparation for birth. Broadening routine antenatal care to included art-based interventions may offer women an opportunity to explore important aspects of the transition to motherhood.

Aim: The aim of this integrative review is to synthesise research regarding the use of art-based interventions with women during pregnancy.

Method: A systematic integrative review of the current evidence-base was conducted. A multi-database keyword search was implemented, and a total of six articles met inclusion criteria. Results were analysed using an inductive thematic analysis framework.

Findings: Six studies met the inclusion criteria. Three major themes were generated: art-based engagements supported women to express complex emotion, fostered a sense of connection and strengthened personal resourcefulness.

Discussion: Creative expression provided an opportunity to explore important aspects of the motherhood experience including, complex emotion, identity and bonding with the unborn child. Being in a group enhanced the health effects of art-making and the social connection felt supportive when role and identity was evolving.

Conclusions: Whilst research on the current topic is emergent, preliminary results suggest that facilitated art-based programs are valuable for pregnant women. Art-based experiences offer women a unique opportunity to explore the full dimensionality of the transition to motherhood which can contribute to improved health and wellbeing. These findings suggest that art-based programs may serve to complement existing antenatal care models.