Maternal emotions during the first three postnatal months: Gaining an hermeneutic understanding

Abstract

Background: Maternal emotions in the first three postnatal months are rarely explored yet in the German context despite it is known that they play an important role in the complexity of maternal health and well-being.

Aim: Gaining understanding of maternal emotions and how the developmental process of the infant circadian rhythm influences them during the first three months of the postnatal period.

Methods: A Gadamerian-based research method was used to explore the experiences of 15 mothers in Germany.

Findings: 'Being needed' and 'being in need' emerged as the first two themes and were further explored hermeneutically. This resulted in the findings of 'emotional balance and conflicting emotions' as underlying maternal emotions during the first three months following birth.

Discussion: Understanding maternal emotions during the first three months of the postnatal period has the potential of opening new pathways for improving maternal health and well-being.

Conclusion: A spectrum of maternal emotions, maternal uncertainties and maternal needs exists in the first three months of the postnatal period.

Keywords: Gadamerian-based research method; Hermeneutics; Infant circadian rhythm; Maternal emotions; Postnatal.