The present study was conducted to explore mothers’ lived experiences of spiritual transformation following the birth of a child. This qualitative study employed Braun and Clarke’s (2006) thematic analysis method. The study sample consisted of eight mothers aged 20 to 40 years who had a child under two years of age and lived in Mashhad in 2025. Participants were selected using purposive sampling. Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews. Data analysis was conducted in accordance with Braun and Clarke’s six-phase thematic analysis framework, including familiarization with the data, generating initial codes, searching for themes, reviewing themes, defining and naming themes, and producing the report. Word Comments Analyzer was used to organize the codes.Ultimately, eight main themes were identified in mothers’ experiences of spiritual transformation: interpreting suffering and hardship as meaningful and rewarding self-sacrifice; growth and development of personal and spiritual characteristics; belief in God and reliance on God as a coping mechanism for dealing with hardships; finding greater meaning in life; redefining feminine identity within the context of motherhood; spousal support and social relationships; changes in priorities and values; and moral responsibility toward the child. The findings indicate that childbirth, beyond being a stressful or potentially crisis-inducing experience, can provide a context for spiritual transformation, the reinterpretation of suffering as meaningful self-sacrifice, and the development of moral virtues. This experience is may play an important role in promoting spiritual and psychological well-being. Accordingly, it is recommended that professionals in psychology, alongside addressing potential postpartum difficulties and adverse outcomes, also consider the spiritual capacities of this period and design educational programs and supportive interventions that take these spiritual transformations into account.

Keywords:Lived experience,childbirth, spiritual transformation, thematic analysis, mothers