Difficult motherhood in the perception of mothers in the 1990s and today

The article presents empirical material that allows to outline the situation of contemporary women experiencing difficult motherhood compared to women twenty years ago described by Małgorzata Kościelska (1998). Qualitative research was attended by 18 women who experienced difficult motherhood associated with unsuccessful prenatal diagnosis due to disability, genetic disease or birth defect. Fritz Schütz's autobiographical narrative interview was used. An analysis of the content of the respondents' statements reveals their concern not only for the child's health and physical development, but also for their mental well-being. Diagnosis of birth defects and genetic anomalies does not inhibit the development of the mother's emotional bond. Women undergo prenatal testing more consciously than in the 1990s. Although they are afraid of such tests, they are more worried about the child's health than about being abandoned by their husband. Their motivation to undergo prenatal tests results from their desire to remedy developmental abnormalities quickly. The possibility of pregnancy termination procedure causes a lot of extreme emotions and moral doubts. Half of the women surveyed positively assess the support within the support groups and advice on online forums, while they rarely receive institutional psychological support (5 people out of 18 respondents). Most women emphasize social ostracism. Despite the passage of 20 years since the publication of Difficult Motherhood by Małgorzata Kościelska (1998), the development of new technologies, medicine, and socio-political transformation, the situation of mothers awaiting the birth of a child and experiencing an unsuccessful diagnosis has not changed radically and requires many systemic changes.