In the present master's thesis, the emotional experiences of first pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period of mothers who give birth are explored. The theoretical part of the master's thesis presents the key events and the physiological process of pregnancy. The focus is on the experience of the pregnancy by a first-time mother, changes in her brain, body, hormonal changes and related emotional changes, and mood swings. Moreover, the author focuses on the acceptance of the physical and emotional changes, and the importance of the partner’s support during pregnancy. The importance of establishing a relationship with the child during pregnancy as well as the relationship between a pregnant woman and her mother during pregnancy are described in detail. The author also touches upon the emotional and mental distress that can occur during pregnancy. In addition, the importance of preparation for childbirth and the physiological course of childbirth are presented, as well as health measures in the event of congenital anomalies. The author also mentions the importance of a partner's presence at birth. The last part of the theoretical part describes the postpartum period and related physical and emotional changes. The author presents breastfeeding as a crucial and basic contact with the child. Lastly, the relationships between the mother and her partner and child are described.
Using a qualitative phenomenological methodology, the connection between pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period of first-time mothers was investigated. The study included six women who gave birth for the first time more than six months ago and less than four years ago. Five women gave vaginal birth, and one had an emergency caesarean birth. Based on the findings of the interviews carried out by the author, it is determined how women experienced their first pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period, and how this experience could be further improved and facilitated. The results show that women mostly accepted their changing bodies and received a lot of support from their partners during pregnancy. Partner support has shown to be crucial during childbirth. The research showed that the first contact with the child was a surprise for most of the participants and they did not experience a surge of positive emotions when they first met the child. The results also show that women were not sufficiently prepared for the postpartum period and were surprised by it especially due to strong emotions and their own experiences. During this period, for most of the participants, the partner's support proved to be central to overcoming the challenges.
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