A Grounded Theory of Balancing Alcohol Recovery and Pregnancy

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore women's concurrent experiences of alcohol/drug recovery and transition to parenthood. The study used a qualitative design to explore and understand women 's experiences of recoveryfrom alcohol/drug dependence during pregnancy. Eleven women, who self-identifled as recovering alcoholics/addicts and either were pregnant or had infants younger than 12 months of age, participated in the study. Balancing emerged as the core concept, a process that explained how women successfully integrated the recovery and motherhood processes into their identity. The women used strategies learned in the process of alcohol/drug recovery to balance between alcohol/drug recovery and motherhood. They used the strategies in unique ways during pregnancy to incorporate the developmental and relational aspects of both advancing in motherhood and maintaining recovery.