The Meaning of Motherhood for the Mother

Bencosme, Wendy Ludecke. (2000). The Meaning of Motherhood for the Mother: The Change That Occurs in the Psyche of Women Entering Motherhood (Doctoral dissertation, Pacifica Graduate Institute, 2005). UMI _.

First-time motherhood can be a life-altering adjustment in a woman’s life. Traditional research methods used in exploring this area have tended to fragment the mother’s experience in order to prove a stated hypothesis, or to make the research more applicable to the field of psychiatry.

This study employed a quantitative methodology in order to explore the “lived experience” of 31 women who were first-time mothers with children under the age of 5 years. The purpose of this study was to assess first-time mothers’ experiences of motherhood in order to understand the feelings, attitudes, and adjustments experienced during this transitional time of life. This study further examined the changes that occur in the psyche of women who entered motherhood with the hypothesis that mothers would encounter a lack of emotional support or understanding both during pregnancy and in the postpartum period. These women would also struggle with role identity and formation leaving them feeling confused, overwhelmed, and unprepared for motherhood.

Findings from this study indicated that overall most women reported having a positive experience of pregnancy. The majority of the women took good care of themselves and received adequate medical care. Yet even though the pregnancy was a positive experience for most, many women reported feeling angry, agitated, and insecure during pregnancy and reported that the birthing process was more difficult than they had expected. They also related a lack of physical help during both the pregnancy and the postpartum period.

The results of this study affirmed the need for more effective mental health care as well as the need for a celebratory custom or initiation rite inaugurating women into motherhood with the aim of helping them to more easily transition into this phase of life.