Table 5 Interviews with mothers-to-be (Mothers Time 1) exploring key mechanisms and contextual factors

Relevant background information (e.g. relationship with partner; own parents; friends; other children) and circumstances surrounding the pregnancy

Contact with services (care as usual) and support during pregnancy

Understanding how they came to be referred to trial, the nature of additional needs, feelings about being referred

Experience of attending sessions (e.g. atmosphere of groups; content, understanding of what key mechanisms were/what was supposed to be achieved)

Relationships with participants and facilitators

Has the nature of the group added to or taken away from content (dynamics; mix of vulnerabilities)?

Partner/family response to participation

To what extent has the intervention helped? In what ways? Any negative consequences?

Hopes for motherhood