Exploring the Needs and Lived Experiences of Women Hospitalised During Pregnancy in the UK: A Qualitative Diary Study (original) (raw)
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A qualitative inquiry into women’s experiences of severe maternal morbidity
Kōtuitui: New Zealand Journal of Social Sciences Online
Severe acute maternal morbidity (SMM) is a near-death experience during pregnancy, childbirth or termination of a pregnancy. Nine women recruited from hospital intensive care or high dependency units following the birth of their baby participated in two qualitative interviews about their SMM experience. The interpretative phenomenological analysis led to the identification of three superordinate themes related to participants: moving from a state of normal pregnancy to being severely unwell, being in critical care and returning to normal. Participants' transition to a SMM event occurred quickly and was frightening, with participants expressing concerns about their husbands/partners' trauma. Participants' time in hospital was particularly hard for those separated from their baby, with this eased by staff kindness and family support. After discharge participants continued to seek explanations for their SMM. Implications include more formal support for mothering when women are in maternal critical care, and support for husbands/partners following a SMM event.
“Save My Baby”: The Lived Experience of Hospitalized Pregnant Women With a Threat of Preterm birth
The Qualitative Report, 2020
Activity restriction in hospital to prevent preterm birth (PTB) is widely used as the first step of treatment. It is associated with adverse physiological and psychological effects on maternal and fetal health that might persist years after birth. A sample of 10 pregnant women who were hospitalized for being at risk for PTB were purposively recruited to describe their lived experience via semi-structured in-depth interview. Five themes were identified, the maternal role establishment and suspending responsibilities, the women's perception of fear of uncertainty and finding support, dissatisfaction of care, the change of routine life and family relationships, and the cultural influence from the participants perspectives. Pregnant women with threat of PTB endure the physical and psychological suffering from being hospitalized to reach their ultimate goal of “having alive and healthy child via safe birth.” A nurse’s understanding of this experience is essential to provide a compete...
Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health, 2008
This paper reports the findings of the postnatal qualitative arm of a larger study, which investigated women's prenatal and postnatal levels of childbirth fear. Women's expectations and experiences of labour and birth in a Western Australian public tertiary hospital were identified following thematic analysis of short written accounts from 141 participants who had given birth in the previous 6 to 14 weeks. Four major categories emerged to describe features and mediating factors in the trajectory of childbirth and the early puerperium. "Anticipating Labour and Birth," "Labour and Birth Depicted," "Mediating Factors and their Consequences," and "Evaluating, Resolving, and Looking Ahead" portray women's comparative reflections on expectations and realities of birth, on mediating influences, and on moving on from their experience. These findings will provide maternity care professionals with insight into the personal and environmental features of the childbirth setting which colours women's recollections. Being aware of what women value during labour and birth will reinforce the need for professionals to provide care using a mindful approach that considers the potential psychological, emotional, and behavioural implications of events. J Midwifery Womens Health 2008;53:53-61
Midwifery
Objective: To explore experiences of care during labour and birth from the perspectives of both the healthcare provider and women receiving care, to inform recommendations for how the quality of care can be improved and monitored, and, to identify the main aspects of care that are important to women. Design: A descriptive phenomenological approach. 53 interviews and 10KII as per table 1 took place including indepth interviews (IDI), focus group discussions (FGD) and key informant interviews (KII) conducted with women, healthcare providers, managers and policy makers. Following verbatim transcription thematic framework analysis was used to describe the lived experience of those interviewed. Setting: 11 public healthcare facilities providing maternity care in urban Tshwane District, Gauteng Province (n = 4) and rural Waterberg District, Limpopo Province (n = 7), South Africa. Participants: Women who had given birth in the preceding 12 weeks (49 women, 7 FGD and 23 IDI); healthcare providers working in the labour wards (33 healthcare providers; nurses, midwives, medical staff, 5 FGD, 18 IDI; managers and policy makers (10 KII). Findings: Both women and healthcare providers largely feel alone and unsupported. There is mutual distrust between women and healthcare providers exacerbated by word of mouth and the media. A lack of belief in women's ability to make appropriate choices negates principles of choice and consent. Procedure-rather than patient-centred care is prioritised by healthcare providers. Although healthcare providers know the principles of good quality care, this was not reflected in the care women described as having received. Beliefs and attitudes as well as structural and organisational problems make it difficult to provide good quality care. Caring behaviour and environment as well as companionship are the most important needs highlighted by women. Professional hierarchy is rarely seen as supportive by healthcare providers but when present, good leadership changes the culture and experience of women and care providers. The use of mobile phones to provide feedback regarding care was positively viewed by women. Conclusion: Clarity regarding what a healthcare facility can (or cannot provide) is important in order to separate practice issues from structural and organisational constraints. Improvements in quality that focus on caring as well as competence should be prioritised. Increased dialogue between healthcare providers and users should be encouraged and prioritised. Implications for practice: A renewed focus is needed to ensure companionship during labour and birth is facilitated. Training in respectful maternity care needs to prioritise caring behaviour and supportive leadership.
Women's experiences of being in high-risk antenatal care day stay and hospital admission
Australian Midwifery, 2005
For women with complicated pregnancies, pregnancy day stay units and contemporary in-hospital care are less restrictive on their lives and mobility than the traditional antenatal bed rest models of the past. A study, replicating previous work, was undertaken to provide a framework for care of women in these contemporary models of care. A longitudinal phenomenological inquiry during the antenatal period of their complicated pregnancy revealed that waiting is central to the women's experience regardless of model of care. Women with complicated pregnancies are embedded in their own anxiety and surrounded by the anxiety of others. Variation between the two contemporary models of care occurred within three dimensions of the experience-impact on well-being, relationship changes, and disruption to life.
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
Background Tailoring an intervention to the needs and wishes of pregnant women in vulnerable situations (e.g., socioeconomic disadvantages) can reduce the risk of adverse outcomes and empower these women. A relatively high percentage of pregnant women in the North of the Netherlands are considered vulnerable to adverse pregnancy outcomes because of their low socioeconomic status and the intergenerational transmission of poverty. In order to improve perinatal and maternal health, next to standard prenatal care, various interventions for pregnant women in vulnerable situations have been developed. We do not know to what extent these additional interventions suit the needs of (pregnant) women. Therefore, the aim of this study is to gain insight into the experiences and needs of women in vulnerable situations who receive additional maternity care interventions in the Northern Netherlands. Methods Qualitative research was performed. We used a phenomenological framework, which is geared t...
International Journal of Doctoral Studies
Selecting the most appropriate methodology for research as a doctoral student is one of the most important yet difficult decisions. Not only should the methodology suit the research question, it is important that it resonates with the philosophy of one’s discipline and produces needed results that will contribute to knowledge. Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) is an approach to qualitative enquiry. IPA seeks to explore how individuals make sense of their major life experiences and is committed to the detailed study of each particular case before moving to broader claims. In the field of midwifery, midwives work with women throughout pregnancy, childbirth and the early postnatal period, offering individualized care based on the unique needs of each woman. IPA aligns with this women-centered philosophy as it offers a methodological approach that considers the individual in a local context. By capturing context specific situations, IPA allows broad-based knowledge to be co...
The Psychologist: Practice & Research Journal, 3(1), 2020
Background: To become a mother represents, for many women, a challenging existential process. Women have to deal with countless changes and adaptations, which can be experienced as sources of imbalance but also as moments of personal enrichment. Currently, this process is influenced by the medicalization of pregnancy and childbirth, which may have positive or negative consequences to the individual experiences of pregnancy and childbirth. Goals: This study aimed to deepen the understanding of the experience of pregnancy and expectations regarding childbirth in a group of women, in a context where pregnancy and childbirth are increasingly medicalized processes. Methods: In this qualitative study, we used semi-structured interviews to collect data regarding the experience of pregnancy and regarding expectations about childbirth in a sample of women (n = 37), recruited in health care centres or obstetric clinics by research assistants. The individual interviews took place at their home...
A Phenomenological Exploration of Women's Lived Experiences During their Pregnancy Lifecycle
When considering peri-and-post natal health, there are several biopsychosocial risk factors at play. Biological, psychological, and social health factors are significant in contributing to maternal wellbeing and influencing maternal morbidity/mortality [1]. The Covid-19 pandemic had significant impacts on general populations and on vulnerable groups such as pre-peri-and-post natal women [2]. In previous epidemics, pregnant women were reluctant to attend hospitals and doctors' appointments due to fear of infection [3]. Covid-19 has shown similar effects [2] and as such, risks associated with the pregnancy lifecycle have increased. A phenomenological investigation found themes of women experiencing negative healthcare, struggles with self-advocacy, heightened challenges for Women of Color, financial instability, increased anxiety, lower social support, lower physical wellbeing, and overall negative experiences related to being pregnant and/or in the pregnancy lifecycle during the COVID-19 Pandemic.