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CONFERENCE PROCEEDING
“Love is in the air": Narratives from the first three days of first-time motherhood
1
Rigshospitalet, Department of Gynecology- Fertility and Obstetrics- The Juliane Marie Center, Copenhagen, Denmark
2
Research Unit of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Department of Clinical Research- University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
3
Absalon College, Midwifery Education, Slagelse, Denmark
4
University of Copenhagen., Department of Clinical Medicine, Copenhagen, Denmark
5
University Hospital of Southern Denmark, Department of Women’s’ Health., Odense, Denmark
Eur J Midwifery 2026;10(Supplement 1):A549
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Background. New mothers experience childbirth as an existential event and wish to learn to navigate emotional challenges. Current pregnancy care is, however, often risk-oriented and focus on physiological dimensions, whereas aspects related to strength or experiences of the existential life changes are not equally explored.
OBJECTIVES:
Objectives. Hence, there is a need to explore existential aspects and paradoxical thoughts about meaning, love, and strength postnatally among new mothers.
METHODS:
Methods. 18 explorative semi-structured interviews with first-time mothers were conducted between 1-3 days postnatally while still admitted to the postnatal unit in the Capital Region of Denmark.The interviews were conducted from a phenomenological approach applying reflexive thematic analysis. Existential psychology and narrative medicine were applied as conceptual framework.
RESULTS:
Preliminary results. We identified a theme describing the overwhelming feeling of a new kind of love in the liminal transitioning into first-time motherhood; “Moving into higher realms - soft and full of love”.
CONCLUSIONS:
Conclusions. The mothers expressed satisfaction with being interviewed which prompted reflection in the first days postnatally. Thoughts about motherhood were present for all informants. We discussed how reflective conversations about motherhood in itself seemed inspiring and were welcomed by informants. The study proposed a novel conception of love, informing clinical midwifery practice to consider including existential aspects.
KEY MESSAGE:
Key message. Midwives should consider engaging in conversations around existential aspects postnatally with first-time mothers before discharged from the postnatal ward. Ethics and conflicts of interest. The study was approved by the Capital Region’s health lawyers and is, in accordance with Danish research law, registered as an active health science research project. The informants provided written consent before participation. The authors declare no conflicts of interests. Poster session 1 (Group A)
Background. New mothers experience childbirth as an existential event and wish to learn to navigate emotional challenges. Current pregnancy care is, however, often risk-oriented and focus on physiological dimensions, whereas aspects related to strength or experiences of the existential life changes are not equally explored.
OBJECTIVES:
Objectives. Hence, there is a need to explore existential aspects and paradoxical thoughts about meaning, love, and strength postnatally among new mothers.
METHODS:
Methods. 18 explorative semi-structured interviews with first-time mothers were conducted between 1-3 days postnatally while still admitted to the postnatal unit in the Capital Region of Denmark.The interviews were conducted from a phenomenological approach applying reflexive thematic analysis. Existential psychology and narrative medicine were applied as conceptual framework.
RESULTS:
Preliminary results. We identified a theme describing the overwhelming feeling of a new kind of love in the liminal transitioning into first-time motherhood; “Moving into higher realms - soft and full of love”.
CONCLUSIONS:
Conclusions. The mothers expressed satisfaction with being interviewed which prompted reflection in the first days postnatally. Thoughts about motherhood were present for all informants. We discussed how reflective conversations about motherhood in itself seemed inspiring and were welcomed by informants. The study proposed a novel conception of love, informing clinical midwifery practice to consider including existential aspects.
KEY MESSAGE:
Key message. Midwives should consider engaging in conversations around existential aspects postnatally with first-time mothers before discharged from the postnatal ward. Ethics and conflicts of interest. The study was approved by the Capital Region’s health lawyers and is, in accordance with Danish research law, registered as an active health science research project. The informants provided written consent before participation. The authors declare no conflicts of interests. Poster session 1 (Group A)
| eISSN: | 2585-2906 |
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