Shedding light on the difficulties and challenges experienced by mothers of infants

Adjustment to life with a newborn presents a variety of challenges, and some mothers experience postnatal disorders. It may be more normative for mothers to face less severe but nevertheless troubling difficulties. In this qualitative study, seven mothers (32-42 years) participated in individual interviews about the stresses and difficulties that they experienced with their infants. An interpretive analytical approach was used to identify the manifest difficulties and make sense of them in terms of three underlying psychological issues: (1) effectiveness as a mother; (2) relationship dynamics; and (3) sense of self. In spite of facing difficulties, mothers evaluated their overall experience as positive. We report on the main adjustments and changes that facilitated their way through the challenges.