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A phenomenological exploration of non-carrying mothers in same-gender relationships experiences of a psychologically traumatic birth.

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Title: A phenomenological exploration of non-carrying mothers in same-gender relationships experiences of a psychologically traumatic birth.
Authors: Williams, Sophie (AUTHOR), Darwin, Zoe (AUTHOR), Lee-Carbon, Leonie (AUTHOR), Iles, Jane (AUTHOR)
Source: Journal of Reproductive & Infant Psychology. Jul2026, Vol. 44 Issue 4, p988-1005. 18p.
Subjects: Childbirth & psychology, Self-evaluation, Psychology of lesbians, Mental health, Psychology of fathers, Qualitative research, Group identity, Perinatal care, LGBTQ+ people, Human sexuality, Statistical sampling, Interviewing, Sexual orientation identity, Attitudes of mothers, Psychological adaptation, Perinatal death, Minority stress, Families, Judgment sampling, Labor (Obstetrics), Help-seeking behavior, Emotional trauma, Thematic analysis, Attitude (Psychology), Race, Sound recordings, Attention, Psychology of mothers, Research methodology, Phenomenology, Motherhood, Shame, Discrimination (Sociology), Social support, Social stigma, Sleep disorders
Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
Abstract: Aims/Background: Birth trauma is increasingly recognised in policy and practice, yet remains focused on birthing women, also holding the assumption that families involve only one of these. This research explored psychologically traumatic birth experiences in non-carrying mothers in same-gender relationships, and how they made sense of these experiences. Design/Methods: Interviews were conducted with eight participants recruited via social media and charities, analysed using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis. Sample demographics were homogeneous; all self-identified as Black, lesbian, first-time mothers. Results and discussion: Four themes were developed: 'anticipated and realised threats', 'navigating identities and roles in the transition to motherhood', 'importance of feeling understood and accepted by others' and 'adapting to a new normal'. Participants' reported threat often began during pregnancy, influenced through prior experiences of perinatal loss, trauma, and stressors related to holding minoritised identities, specifically concerning sexuality and race. Challenges were experienced related to navigating dual identities as both a partner and mother, with prevalent feelings of resentment, invisibility, shame, and not being 'good enough'. Most experienced stigma and discrimination, from within and outside their families, and valued spaces where they felt accepted, including through connecting with other LGBTQ+ parents. Implications for subsequent reproductive choices were voiced, typically linked to efforts to prevent repeated trauma. Conclusion: Psychologically traumatic birth may be experienced by any parent, bringing significant impacts for individuals and their relationships. Intersectional approaches that recognise diverse routes to parenthood are needed to inform and evaluate family-focused support provision, which may include facilitating couples' navigation of reproductive choices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Journal of Reproductive & Infant Psychology is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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  Data: A phenomenological exploration of non-carrying mothers in same-gender relationships experiences of a psychologically traumatic birth.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Reproductive+%26+Infant+Psychology%22">Journal of Reproductive & Infant Psychology</searchLink>. Jul2026, Vol. 44 Issue 4, p988-1005. 18p.
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  Data: Aims/Background: Birth trauma is increasingly recognised in policy and practice, yet remains focused on birthing women, also holding the assumption that families involve only one of these. This research explored psychologically traumatic birth experiences in non-carrying mothers in same-gender relationships, and how they made sense of these experiences. Design/Methods: Interviews were conducted with eight participants recruited via social media and charities, analysed using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis. Sample demographics were homogeneous; all self-identified as Black, lesbian, first-time mothers. Results and discussion: Four themes were developed: 'anticipated and realised threats', 'navigating identities and roles in the transition to motherhood', 'importance of feeling understood and accepted by others' and 'adapting to a new normal'. Participants' reported threat often began during pregnancy, influenced through prior experiences of perinatal loss, trauma, and stressors related to holding minoritised identities, specifically concerning sexuality and race. Challenges were experienced related to navigating dual identities as both a partner and mother, with prevalent feelings of resentment, invisibility, shame, and not being 'good enough'. Most experienced stigma and discrimination, from within and outside their families, and valued spaces where they felt accepted, including through connecting with other LGBTQ+ parents. Implications for subsequent reproductive choices were voiced, typically linked to efforts to prevent repeated trauma. Conclusion: Psychologically traumatic birth may be experienced by any parent, bringing significant impacts for individuals and their relationships. Intersectional approaches that recognise diverse routes to parenthood are needed to inform and evaluate family-focused support provision, which may include facilitating couples' navigation of reproductive choices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Reproductive & Infant Psychology is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=194783084
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/02646838.2025.2503936
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 18
        StartPage: 988
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Childbirth & psychology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Self-evaluation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Psychology of lesbians
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mental health
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Psychology of fathers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Qualitative research
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Group identity
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Perinatal care
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: LGBTQ+ people
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Human sexuality
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Statistical sampling
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Interviewing
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sexual orientation identity
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Attitudes of mothers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Psychological adaptation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Perinatal death
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Minority stress
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Families
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Judgment sampling
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Labor (Obstetrics)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Help-seeking behavior
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Emotional trauma
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Thematic analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Attitude (Psychology)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Race
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sound recordings
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Attention
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Psychology of mothers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research methodology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Phenomenology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Motherhood
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Shame
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Discrimination (Sociology)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social support
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social stigma
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sleep disorders
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: United Kingdom
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: A phenomenological exploration of non-carrying mothers in same-gender relationships experiences of a psychologically traumatic birth.
        Type: main
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            NameFull: Williams, Sophie
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            NameFull: Darwin, Zoe
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            NameFull: Lee-Carbon, Leonie
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            NameFull: Iles, Jane
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            – D: 01
              M: 07
              Text: Jul2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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            – TitleFull: Journal of Reproductive & Infant Psychology
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