Lived experiences of child-rearing women after first childbirth

Abstract

Purpose This study aimed to explore the meaning of the lived experiences of child-rearing women after first childbirth, with describing their experiences of child-rearing as they are. Method The study employed a descriptive phenomenological approach with in-depth interviews. Participants included 10 primiparas, eight months after having given birth. Employed Colaizzi's model and NVivo11 for analysis. Results The major findings of this study consisted of 3 thematic categories: "The attention of surrounding people since having the child;" "The determination to live together with child through the tense days long-term;" "Looking for satisfaction with my own life." Participants became able to face themselves through the difficulties of childrearing, and through relations with the people around them. Consequently they acquired new values in life, being not able to notice so far. Conclusion These findings suggest it is important to support child-rearing women how they catch the meaning of their child care experiences. It's necessary to be considering care to a woman during the child-rearing period as support of the family and the surrounding person of the woman, not to be turned to only herself, when a midwife care for a woman during the child-rearing period.