Embodiment during the postpartum period: How bodily experience shapes parent’s understanding

ABSTRACT

During the postpartum period, the bond with the infant is starting to take shape, as the emotional world of the mother is being formed by the bodily experiences. The current study uses the mother’s point of view to describe how psycho-physical experiences shape the process of becoming a mother. A qualitative-phenomenological approach was taken, and 12 first-time mothers were documented through a semi-constructed interview, and a recall interview. Results indicated, referring to the beginning of motherhood, that: (1) bodily sensations have powerful and surprising meanings for mothers, (2) physical identification with the infant constitutes a platform for awareness about the infant, and (3) conflicting bodily experiences stimulate difficulty and joy simultaneously. The findings deepen the understanding of the way bodily experiences shape the satisfaction from being a parent. The importance of the mother awareness to physical processes and to the connection between them and mental processes is discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Bodily expression
• embodiment
• becoming a mother
• postpartum period

Einat Shuper Engelhard, Ph.D. DMT

1. Head Dance Movement Therapy M.A. programme

Graduate School of Creative Art Therapies. Faculty of social Welfare & health sciences, emili sagol creative arts therapies research centre,

University of Haifa, Mt. Carmel, Haifa 31,905, Israel

1. Graduate School of Creative Art Therapies. Faculty of humanities & social sciences, Kibbutzim college of education, 149 Derech Namir, Tel Aviv 62,507

Tel Aviv, Israel

Einat Shuper Engelhard, PhD; DMT. Einat is the head of the dance-movement therapy M.A. training and research associate in Haifa university’s school of creative art therapies and a senior lecturer in Kibbutzim college. Prior to that she served as the Head of the dance movement therapy training at Kibbutzim college (2013–2017). She is a psychotherapist and a dance-movement therapist (supervisor). She worked as a therapist with Holocaust survivors and in various kindergartens and high-schools in Israel, with children who suffer from emotional difficulties and developmental problems.

Julia Ayana Zaides graduate of school of Creative Art Therapies, Haifa University. Currently studying EDT-psychotherapy on behalf of IEDTA organization. Worked as a DMT with children and their parents, newly immigrated teenagers and adults. Works at youth village and private practice. Started to delve into the experience of transition to motherhood since becoming a mother to her first child, in 2015. Conducting field research of this subject

Federman, Dita, PhD; DMT; psychotherapist, Senior Researcher, lecturer, supervisor. The School of Creative Art Therapies, the Faculty of social welfare & health sciences. The Emili Sagol CAT Research Center University of Haifa, Dita has established the M.A training at the University of Haifa & was head of training for 10 years. She is engaged in teaching & researching at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand. Her areas of interest are Neurodegenerative disorders, Trauma, ‘Mindfulness’ & stress management. She has a private practice where she applies her form of mindful movement with groups & individuals

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Julia Ayana Zaides

Julia Ayana Zaides (MA) graduate of school of Creative Art Therapies, Haifa University. Currently studying EDT-psychotherapy on behalf of IEDTA organization. Worked as a DMT with children and their parents, newly immigrated teenagers and adults. Works at youth village and private practice. Started to delve into the experience of transition to motherhood since becoming a mother to her first child, in 2015. Conducting field research of this subject.

Einat Shuper Engelhard

Einat Shuper Engelhard (PhD) is the Head of the Dance Movement therapy training and research associate in Haifa University’s School of Creative Art Therapies. Prior to that she served as the Head of the Dance Movement therapy training at Kibuzzim college (2013–2017). She is a psychotherapist and a dance movement therapist (supervisor). She worked as a therapist with Holocaust survivors and in various kindergartens and high-schools in Israel, with children who suffer from emotional difficulties and developmental problems.

Dita Federman

Dita Federman, PhD; DMT; psychotherapist, Senior Researcher, lecturer, supervisor. The School of Creative Art Therapies, the Faculty of social welfare & health sciences. The Emili Sagol CAT Research Center University of Haifa, Dita has established the M.A training at the University of Haifa & was head of training for 10 years. She is engaged in teaching & researching at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand. Her areas of interest are Neurodegenerative disorders, Trauma, ‘Mindfulness’ & stress management. She has aprivate practice where she applies her form of mindful movement with groups & individuals.