The Emotional Dimension of Motherhood: Professional Discourse on Mothers’ Experiences During Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Postpartum

The emotional and psychosocial dimension of motherhood is an essential component of the well‐being of women and families and requires comprehensive approaches that transcend strictly biomedical care. This study analyses the perceptions of healthcare and psychosocial professionals, including social workers, among them social workers, on the emotional experience of mothers in La Rioja during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period, with the aim of identifying practices, barriers and opportunities to strengthen a more humanized and community‐based model of care. Qualitative research was conducted based on thirteen semistructured interviews with professionals in gynecology, midwifery, physiotherapy, perinatal psychology, and social work. Thematic analysis, supported by NVivo, allowed us to explore how these professionals interpret the emotional and social needs of mothers, as well as the resources available to meet them. The results show broad consensus on the importance of emotional accompaniment and psychosocial support, areas in which social work plays a key role in addressing situations of vulnerability, coordinating community resources, and addressing social factors that affect the maternal experience. However, professionals point to structural limitations related to lack of time, high workload, discontinuity of postpartum care, and insufficient interprofessional coordination. Despite this, valuable practices are emerging, such as support groups, breastfeeding counseling, home visits, and preventive interventions by social workers, which reinforce the importance of a comprehensive and community‐based approach. The findings underscore the need to consolidate perinatal care models that explicitly integrate the psychosocial dimension, strengthen interdisciplinary teams, and promote collaboration between health and social services. Although situated in a local context, this study offers transferable keys to improving emotional and social care for mothers in other territories.