“If We Didn’t Have Our Babies,We Wouldn’t Be Here Right Now”: A Qualitative Exploration of New Motherhood While Navigating Substance Use Disorder Recovery

Abstract

Background:

Postpartum women with substance use disorder (SUD) are at heightened risk of adverse health outcomes problems. The current understanding of early motherhood while managing SUD is poorly understood, as the transitional period following delivery has been a neglected area within research. This qualitative study examined how postpartum women balance new motherhood while navigating early recovery from SUDs.

Methods:

The primary aim was to elicit individual experiences in the context of maternal functioning (social support, psychological well-being, infant care, self-care, mother-child interaction, management, and adjustment). In 2023, we purposefully recruited a sample of postpartum women receiving residential services for SUD (N = 22) and conducted semi-structured individual interviews. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim, and codes were analyzed using deductive and subsequent inductive analysis to identify themes unique to each functioning domain among postpartum women with SUDs.

Results:

Participants were predominately white (81%), single (86%), and between 20 and 40 years of age and were the primary caregivers for their children, and half were less than 3 months postpartum. Balancing infant care and self-care was cited as a significant challenge. Several participants expressed a need for more early parenting support and assistance in navigating social services and life after leaving residential treatment. Pregnancy catalyzed entering and remaining in treatment while remaining engaged in recovery and sustaining sobriety was a form of self-care. The social network gained as part of the treatment was frequently described as crucial for new moms to care for their children while navigating early recovery.

Conclusions:

This study highlights the importance of exploring the postpartum experience and needs among postpartum people in SUD recovery. Maintaining recovery through sustainable sobriety was considered a form of self-care, indicating that the postpartum period is a critical point in both a mother’s life and a unique intervention point for postpartum women with SUD.