In my dissertation, I explored how expecting parents prepare for an infant using the lens of occupational science. Specifically, I investigated how families navigate the transition to parenthood through the core concepts of nesting, place-making, and resource seeking. By adopting a multimethod design—combining comprehensive narrative interviews, "Go-Along" observations, and artifact questionnaires—the study captured a well-rounded look at the transition to parenthood. It evaluated this journey from a parallel literature review, the emic (insider) perspectives of birthing and support parents, and the professional experiences of interdisciplinary healthcare providers.

The findings illuminate nesting as a multidimensional experience that spans biological, temporal, spatial, and social dimensions. For parents, nesting acts as an embodied and spatial practice to manage uncertainty and cultivate a sense of identity and belonging. For professionals, supporting expecting families is an intuitive process of facilitating these everyday preparations. Notably, the author expands this concept to specialized environments, detailing how families establish material and relational place-making when an infant is admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

Ultimately, the dissertation synthesizes these insights to introduce the term parenescence, providing a broader framework for understanding the profound occupational shifts that occur during the transition to parenthood. The project concludes by offering actionable implications for future interdisciplinary practice and research, laying the groundwork for how professionals can better facilitate nesting and support emerging families.

Publication:

“Nesting Is More Every Day”: Theoretically Conceptualizing Nesting, Place-Making, and Resource Seeking During Pregnancy From an Occupational Science Perspective (View here)