Journey To Motherhood: Exploring the Lived Experiences of Pregnant Women in North Caloocan City Through a Descriptive Phenomenological Study

Becoming an expectant mother changes a woman in physical, emotional, social, and spiritual realities. Past studies focused on medical health and clinical needs rarely explored how an expectant woman in the cities transforms her life to adapt to and accept the new realities of motherhood. Understanding these personal realities of urban pregnant women is essential for delivering maternal-focused nursing care. This qualitative phenomenological study aimed to explore the lived experiences of expectant mothers in the urban community of North Caloocan and to understand their journey of motherhood, guided by Edmund Husserl. The data were collected through unstructured, audio-recorded in-depth interviews with fifteen pregnant women and were analyzed using Colaizzi’s seven-step phenomenological method. To ensure its accuracy and trustworthiness, the researcher set aside their own personal biases, opinions, and assumptions. Pregnancy is a deeply transformative experience with five key themes that emerged from the participants’ narratives: 1. Discovering Pregnancy: Emotional ambivalence from surprise to acceptance; 2. Adapting daily life despite Physical and Emotional Changes; 3. Confronting Challenges by Building Resilience; 4. Drawing Strength from Family, faith and Healthcare providers; and 5. Finding Meaning in Embracing Motherhood. Participants described the pregnancy as a profound journey of transformation that taught them to become responsible mothers and deepened their faith in God. From these findings, it can be concluded that pregnancy is not merely a biological process; it is a deeply meaningful life event for an expectant woman.