Maternal identity of women in the postpartum period

The article provides a theoretical analysis of the notions of “maternity”, “maternal sphere”, “maternal role” and “maternal identity”. The place of maternal identity in the system of a woman’s identities is determined. This article provides a brief description of the structural elements (cognitive, emotional, behavioural and axiological) of maternal identity. It also emphasizes the signifi cance of the postpartum period in a women’s psychic life and stresses its pivotal role in the development of maternal identity. Finally, the article points out some peculiarities of maternal identity of full-term and pre-term mothers. The period of early adulthood is characterized by a number of peculiarities which relate to attaining new social roles, reaching maturity and overcoming crisis periods. The same stages are relevant within the context of studies of maternity. When a woman becomes a mother, she attains a new social role – that of a mother. By internalizing it, a woman reaches a new level of maturity and maternal identity. The purpose of this article is to highlight and analyze the notion of maternal identity by (1) defi ning and separating such notions as “maternity”, “maternal sphere”, “maternal role”, “maternal identity”; (2) determining the place maternal identity occupies within the system of women’s identities; (3) providing short characteristics of the structural elements of the phenomenon in question; (4) identifying key phases and stages of the development of maternal identity; (5) describing the role of the postpartum period in a woman’s psychic life; and fi nally, by pointing out some possible peculiarities of maternal identity of women after a full-term and pre-term pregnancy.