Rural Mothers’ Postpartum Social and Emotional Experiences: A Qualitative Investigation

The social and emotional challenges experienced by new mothers residing in rural areas are distinct from those confronted by their urban and suburban counterparts.However, the existing literature on postpartum social and emotional experiences of rural mothers is limited.To address this gap in knowledge, we conducted a phenomenological study to explore the postpartum social and emotional experiences of rural mothers.The study revealed that rural mothers experience feelings of powerlessness, thwarted help-seeking, and resilience.Findings are discussed in the context of the wider discourse on childbirth and postpartum experiences of rural mothers and have important implications for professional counselors serving rural communities.