The Early Postpartum Experience Of Previously Infertile Mothers

Keywords

Lived experience; Phenomenology; Postpartum; Previously infertile mothers

Abstract

Objective: To explore the lived experience of becoming a new mother from the unique perspectives of previously infertile women. Design: A descriptive phenomenological design was used to extract the fundamental structure of the postpartum experience of previously infertile mothers. Setting: Central Florida. Participants: Twelve first-time, previously infertile mothers age 27 to 43 years. Methods: Face-to-face interviews were conducted twice with each participant. Recorded interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using Colaizzi's approach. Results: Two main themes emerged that described the early postpartum experience of first-time, previously infertile mothers: (a) lingering identity as infertile and (b) gratitude for the gift of motherhood. Participants reported that their lingering identities as infertile and immense gratitude for the gift of motherhood propelled them to establish unrealistic expectations to be perfect mothers. When they were unable to live up this expectation, they censored their feelings of inadequacy, guilt, and shame. Conclusion: Findings from this study may help to sensitize health care providers to the difficulties faced by previously infertile women during their transition to motherhood.

Publication Date

5-1-2015

Publication Title

JOGNN - Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing

Volume

44

Issue

3

Number of Pages

370-379

Document Type

Article

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.1111/1552-6909.12576

Socpus ID

84929291738 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/84929291738

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