The Professional Counselor | Volume 14, Issue 3 268 In addition, one participant was a mother of twins, which we recognize could lead to different experiences from the mothers of singletons, but at the time of the group, we felt creating a culture of inclusiveness outweighed the need for homogeneity. In retrospect, we felt the participant was a valuable contributor, and the decision toward inclusivity was correct. We recommend that future research on this population similarly create a climate of openness and community. Finally, we recognize that while using incentives is an accepted practice, the $100 gift cards may have not only motivated participants but also captured a specific demographic that was financially driven. Additional research should pinpoint the specific challenges faced by new mothers and identify impactful support practices, especially for mothers in rural areas. Future research replicating this study in other rural areas could also strengthen the understanding of the population. As described in this study, every rural area is unique, so additional data from rural communities could further confirm this study’s understanding of women’s postpartum experiences. A final recommendation is the exploration of the impact of children in the family system as a source of postpartum support. One participant described her preteen daughter’s expression of curiosity about childbirth as a loving, supportive context where she could share developmentally appropriate information about her experience, and we wondered if this opportunity for processing is helpful for other postpartum women. Conclusion This study highlights the urgent need to address the disparities in postpartum support for mothers living in rural areas. The findings describe rural mothers’ social and emotional experiences, including feelings of powerlessness, a desire to seek help, and their resilience in the face of difficulties. By advocating for expansion of the overall infrastructure for care during childbirth and postpartum, counselors can enhance their support of rural mothers’ social and emotional needs. Counselors can play a vital role in developing this kind of support by being knowledgeable about the experiences of rural mothers and advocating for a holistic response to this identified need. Conflict of Interest and Funding Disclosure The authors reported no conflict of interest in the development of this manuscript. The research for this study was supported by a grant from the Center for Rural Innovation at Tennessee Tech University. References Albright, A. (1993). Postpartum depression: An overview. Journal of Counseling & Development, 71(3), 316–320. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1556-6676.1993.tb02219.x American Counseling Association. (2014). ACA code of ethics. https://bit.ly/acacodeofethics Bedaso, A., Adams, J., Peng, W., & Sibbritt, D. (2021). The relationship between social support and mental health problems during pregnancy: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Reproductive Health, 18, 1–23. https://www.doi.org/10.1186/s12978-021-01209-5 Cho, H., Lee, K., Choi, E., Cho, H. N., Park, B., Suh, M., Rhee, Y., & Choi, K. S. (2022). Association between social support and postpartum depression. Scientific Reports, 12, 3128. https://www.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-07248-7
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