Making Meaning of Motherhood Women’s experience of motherhood during postpartum psychosis and the influence of cultural narratives

[Master Thesis]

Popular narratives around glowing and content mothers experiencing a tranquil postnatal period can silence the reality of many other women. Especially, women suffering from postnatal mental health issues, may feel isolated by the dominant narrative. To gain more insight into their perceived reality, this qualitative study set out to explore the research question “How do women with postpartum psychosis experience being a new mother, in the context of the cultural discourse on motherhood?” Three autobiographical works by women who had gone through postpartum psychosis were explored using narrative analysis. Multiple experiences were found to be present in the stories of all three women. First, the women experienced negative feelings such as guilt and loss in connection to motherhood. Next there was an inability to integrate the new role of being a mother as well as a common struggle for control. The pressures of dominant cultural narratives were present amongst all these experiences. Lastly, the findings suggested that a lengthy separation between mother and child will negatively affect their bond. Future research could add even more depth and nuance to this issue. For example, dominant motherhood narratives could be explored from a different angle by focusing research on women who defied them. Research could further attempt to detangle women’s experiences of motherhood and psychosis, by comparing mothers with postpartum psychosis who have vastly different social backgrounds. Ultimately, this thesis highlighted the complex and nuanced realities of new motherhood, especially in connection with mental illness. The narrow confines of dominant motherhood narratives should therefore be challenged in order to make room for more diverse realities.

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