Experiences about motherhood in maya mothers of Yucatan

Abstract

Maternity has been seen historically as a natural women's role, generating stereotypes that affect their wellbeing. The feminist phenomenological approach positions women as researchers and as subjects of study. The purpose was to understand the experiences of women who have lived motherhood, from pregnancy to postpartum period, from a Maya community in Yucatan. A participatory and dialogic workshop was held that explored the experiences and beliefs around pregnancy, childbirth and puerperium. Married mothers aged 15 to 43 participated, and for the content analysis, perspectives on how emotional, cultural and social factors influence motherhood were collected. The results showed that pregnancy occurs between the ages of 15 and 20, someone planned it while others did not, generating different emotions. The preference for natural birth stood out, perceived as more valuable for postpartum recovery. In the puerperium period traditional care practices and the importance of family support were found. In addition, beliefs were found such as the relationship between labor pain and gender of the newborn, as well as the woman that went through cesarean surgery keeps virginity. Moreover, social, community and family pressure were showed to conduct the ideal of “supermom.”. It was concluded that there is a need to strengthen the bond between the mother and her closest relatives and promote spaces for reflection where women share experiences, encouraging a more informed motherhood and proper to the cultural context.