Mothers requiring dialysis: parenting and end stage kidney disease

Background: Mothers requiring dialysis to treat end-stage kidney disease face the challenging demands of the disease and dialysis treatment in addition to their role as a parent. Objective: To describe the experience of mothers who require haemodialysis. Methods: Four mothers receiving haemodialysis treatment for end-stage kidney disease in regional Australia were interviewed to explore the mothers' experiences, attitudes, beliefs and values of their dual role as mothers and haemodialysis recipients. Results: The overarching theme emerging from the data was the competing roles of motherhood and dialysis. Four key sub-themes emerged: fitting everything in, internal family challenges, lost connections and striving for normality. Conclusion: Being a mother adds a range of complexities to being on dialysis. While managing dialysis, mothers struggle to care for their children and stay connected with family life. Nephrology health professionals are uniquely placed to support mothers and need to develop strategies to ease their burdens of care.