Contents

Dedica tion page vii

Acknowl edgement s viii

Introd uction 1

1 The storied huma n life: a na rrative appro ach 6

2 Making sense of mothe rhood : cultural script s 27

3 Setting the Wes tern cont ext: mothe ring in late-mo dern

society 46

4 Anticip ating mothe rhood : the antenatal period 66

5 Making sense of early mothe ring experi ences 89

6 A return to no rmal: becom ing the expert 112

7 Conclusi ons an d refl ections: making sense of mothe rhood 138

Refer ences 162

Index 172