Being (Not) Born a Mother: Longitudinal Narratives of Motherhood Construction

Abstract

This study longitudinally examined the parenting expectations and experiences of first-time mothers (N =16) with postpartum depressive symptoms through a thematic analysis of the Five-Minute Speech Samples collected during the prenatal and postnatal periods. The analyses revealed three overarching themes: (1) while most mothers experienced rich, intense, and ambivalent emotions as they constructed their maternal role, some believed they needed to feel consistently positive based on the assumption that the baby could sense their emotional state; (2) some mothers longed for their former, ‘free’ childless lives, whereas others embraced this new role feeling empowered and fulfilled; and (3) parenting representations were shaped under the pressure of ‘intensive mothering’ ideologies and the shadow of “expert” advice that could conflict with one another and with women’s own intuitions. Overall, the findings point to the importance of centering women’s subjectivity in programs aimed at supporting maternal mental health.