[Motherhood in a recent immigration to Quebec context]

Present the results of a study of the experience of maternity in the context of a recent immigration to Quebec.

Semi-structured interviews were carried out amongst mothers from different countries, having immigrated within the last five years. L'Écuyer's (1990) developmental analysis of the content was used to analyze the results.

The data collected from 15 participants demonstrates that they perceive their motherly role as a great responsibility. During the postnatal phase, these women develop autonomy as mothers, but they also suffer from isolation and often only have their spouse to rely on. They experience a vast range of emotions such as happiness, anxiety, and sadness. Their level of distress depends on their representation of their maternity and immigration. To ensure their wellbeing, they keep in touch with their origins and use the professional services available.

The transition into motherhood leads to a great disruption of these women's lives. Due to social isolation, their responsibilities as mothers seem even more intense. The partner, considered an ally, thus plays an important role by their side. They struggle with trusting Quebecers, however, some services are greatly appreciated: the in-home visit of nurses, the guide From Tiny Tot to Toddler and the Info-Santé telephone service. It would be relevant to conduct more studies on the reality of immigrant fathers and to consider increasing the number of in-home nurse or midwife visits for mothers who are less socially integrated and who perceive their immigration negatively.