Making existential meaning in transition to motherhood-A scoping review

the findings in this review suggest that transition to motherhood is considered a pivotal and paradoxical life event. Through the lens of existential psychology it can be interpreted as an existentially changing event, reorganising values and what makes life worth living, and to some women also being interpreted as a spiritual experience. However, in present maternity services there is a predominant focus on biomedical issues, which sets the arena for motherhood transition, and the issues related to potentially existentially changing experiences, are not considered important. Without an integrative approach, where personal meaning-making issues are discussed, the potential for growth during existential authenticity is not utilised. Transition to motherhood raises existential questions about mortality and meaning of life, and we should explore this field in research and in clinical work.