Meanings attributed to motherhood by women from a group of pregnant couples

Abstract

Objective: to learn the meanings attributed to the experience of motherhood by women from a group of pregnant couples. Method: in this exploratory, qualitative, descriptive study, conducted between March and August 2018, data were collected by non-participant observation, recorded accounts and WhatsApp conversations. The analysis used Minayo’s operative proposal and the theoretical framework of Symbolic Interactionism. Results: the study participants were 23 women, who attributed the meanings of love, care, renunciation, identity change, fear and stigmatization to motherhood; those meanings affected all spheres of their lives. Final remarks: the meanings attributed to the moment affected the mothers’ behavior and well-being and represented valuable input to the health teams to arrange a safe experience. Pregnant couples groups proved favorable educational spaces for thinking about, and re-elaborating, the symbolic elements of motherhood, and contributed to the mothers’ autonomy and empowerment.