Mothers᾽ experiences of postpartum period: a phenomenological study

Background: All women experience similar changes in the postpartum period, but some special factors make these experiences unique and sometimes cause stress and anxiety. Understanding these experiences is essential for providing appropriate postpartum care. This study investigated the meaning and nature of mothers' experiences and their daily life in this period. Methods: This is a qualitative study employing a phenomenological approach. Data were collected by deep interviews. 14 mothers who referred to the hospitals or health care centers of Isfahan city in 2005 were interviewed. Sampling was purposive and data were analyzed by Colaizzi's method. Results: The total findings of the study were collected in 90 codes, 15 categories and 4 main concepts were extracted: positive mood reactions, negative mood reactions, feeling unprepared, and body image change. Conclusion: Mothers᾽ experiences lead to psychological and emotional reactions in postpartum period based on the care and support they receive. If these services are not enough and appropriate, they face various tensions which have adverse effects on the newborns and families as well. Therefore, to help mothers and their families to achieve their evolutionary role with minimum stress in this susceptible period, it is necessary to determine the effective factors and plan strategies for postpartum care services based on mothers' need.