The meaning for mothers of a new infant: relationship to maternal experience.

The meaning for mothers of having an infant was explored during the first 3 months using Lewin's life space concept in terms of four aspects: (a) encountered change, (b) desired change, (c) difficult things, and (d) satisfying things. The influence of parental experience (time since the infant's birth and parity of the mother) on these aspects was examined. The 83 mothers of healthy newborns responded to the open-ended items of a questionnaire at approximately 7, 30, and 90 days. Themes or categories of responses were grouped into topical classes for analysis. Initially desired change concerned both reality-bound circumstances and maternal qualities, but later primarily the former. Although some infant care tasks were difficult things and others satisfying, the infant's growth, development, and interaction were clearly satisfying. The effects of both time and parity varied with the aspect and class of meaning assessed. Meaning for primiparous mothers may have more to do with sense of self than it does for multiparous mothers. Other factors that may influence meaning, including social-economic status, should be examined.