Maternal orientation theory outlines two orientations to motherhood (Raphael-Leff,1983). The Facilitator orientation is characterised by idealisation of the infant and themothering role, and caregiving practices reflecting an infant-led approach.

The Regulatororientation is described as a more resistant stance, where the mother seeks to defend herselffrom being overwhelmed by the infant and motherhood, with caregiving typified by ascheduled mother-led approach. The theory proposes that distinct intrapsychic processespredict caregiving practices, psychological adjustment during the transition to parenthoodand individual differences in maternal vulnerability.

However, there is little empiricalevidence to support these propositions. Furthermore, three different maternal orientationmeasures have been used in the literature making it difficult to generalise across studies.

This thesis addresses four research aims. Two studies aimed to explore thepsychometric properties of the maternal orientation measures and assess relations withcaregiving practices and maternal adjustment concurrently.

Results from these exploratorystudies informed two further prospective studies to test relationships between maternalorientation in pregnancy and caregiving, and maternal adjustment in the early monthspostpartum. The first study (N = 230 expectant mothers) explored the psychometric properties ofthe three empirical measures of maternal orientation in pregnancy.

These three measureswere modestly correlated, and a revised version of the Antenatal Maternal OrientationMeasure (AMOM; Sharp & Bramwell, 2004), the Antenatal Maternal Orientation Measure-Revised (AMOM-R), emerged as the most reliable and valid measure. .