Date of Publication

2023

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology major in Human Development

Subject Categories

Human Factors Psychology | Psychology

College

College of Liberal Arts

Department/Unit

Psychology

Thesis Advisor

Cely Domingo Magpantay

Defense Panel Chair

Maria Caridad H. Tarroja

Defense Panel Member

Roberto E. Javier, Jr.
Marissa O. Calleja
Melissa L. Reyes
Marc Eric Reyes

Abstract/Summary

Becoming a mother signifies an important transition for a woman. This study followed 30 first-time mothers through their third trimester of pregnancy and the first two months into the transition to motherhood and explored their lived experiences. The chief concern of the study is to explore how this transition experience impacts the woman's sense of self and how these experiences enable the realization of the meaning of motherhood. An interpretative phenomenological analysis is used in the study. In the last trimester, lived experiences described four organizing themes: confirmation of the pregnancy, vulnerability, expectations and practices in pregnancy and childbirth, and lastly, ideals of motherhood. Two months post-partum, the lived experiences also described four organizing themes: realization of the new motherhood identity, vulnerability, expectations, and lastly, the world revolving around the baby. As for the woman's sense of self in first-time motherhood, a personal and a relational self emerged. Realizations attributed to own characteristics discovered are described in the personal self, whereas realizations attributed to interpersonal characteristics are described in the latter. Lastly, the meaning of motherhood was described in three organizing themes: experiences in transition, transformations, and training. Integration of results and their implications are discussed.

Keywords: first-time mothers, self and meaning in motherhood, qualitative design

Abstract Format

html

Language

English

Format

Electronic

Keywords

Mothers; Motherhood

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Embargo Period

12-10-2025

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Available for download on Wednesday, December 10, 2025

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