The Meaning of Becoming a Mother. A Phenomenological-Hermeneutic Study.
Åsa Gamgam Leanderz, Margaretha Larsson, Frida Lygnegård and 2 others
PMID 40091146WHAT IT FOUND
Mothers described becoming a mother as a profound change: they felt more vulnerable, experienced intense love, became more aware of their bodies, and were developing a new self.
They needed belonging, care for themselves, and time to find vitality again.
Key findings
01Mothers described becoming a mother as being profoundly touched within and opening up to change and new dimensions of life.
02Mothers said a sense of belonging was essential and that they needed to be cared for by others.
03Mothers described inherent vulnerability as more intense feelings, sensitivity, worry about accidents, and fears of hurting their child accidentally.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The sample included 22 mothers and was homogeneous: well-educated Swedish parents in heterosexual relationships, with no lesbian or single mothers and only one foreign-born mother. Most participants were recruited through snowball sampling and social media, which may limit transferability. The initial question 'What makes you feel well?' may have skewed the results toward positive experiences. Each mother had one interview at a different stage, so the study did not follow the same women over time. Most interviews were digital, which may have made some disclosure harder.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. Funding came from Högskolan i Skövde and the Skaraborg Institute.
The easy way to misread this
Do not treat these themes as evidence that asking existential questions improves maternal outcomes. This study describes mothers' experiences and did not test an intervention.