Pregnancy Experience Research Articles

Empowering a Young Mother Through Continuity of Care: A Case Report of a Primiparous Woman's Journey

Continuity of midwifery care (CoMC) is a model of care in which a woman is supported by the same midwife, or a small team of midwives, throughout her pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. This model has been shown to have several benefits for women and their babies, including reduced rates of intervention, increased satisfaction with care, and improved maternal and neonatal outcomes. This case report describes the experiences of a 21-year-old primiparous woman who received CoMC from a midwife in a community setting. The woman was highly satisfied with the care she received, reporting that she felt empowered and in control of her pregnancy and childbirth experience. She also felt that the midwife was a trusted source of support throughout her journey. In conclusion, this case report provides further evidence of the benefits of CoMC for women and their babies, particularly for young mothers who may require additional support and guidance. It highlights the importance of providing woman-centered care that is responsive to the individual needs of each woman.

The Role of Gender in Turkish Women’s Pregnancy Experiences

Background: Apart from the biological changes women experience throughout pregnancy, their exposure to a gender discrimination stemming from cultural values adopted by the society in which they live can make it difficult for them to adapt to pregnancy and thus lead to negative pregnancy experiences. Aim: This research was conducted using a cross-sectional and relation-seeking approach to evaluate the effects of social gender inequality on pregnancy experiences. Methods: Data for this cross-sectional and relation-seeking study were gathered between 25 November 2019 and 25 January 2020 using face-to face interviews the researcher conducted with childbearing women who visited the outpatient clinic and non-stress test units of a hospital for the pregnancy follow-up. Results:: When using the Pregnancy Experiences Scale to assess childbearing women, higher scores indicated more positive emotions than negative emotions. Independent variables that affect the scores on the Pregnancy Experiences Scale include a willingness to be pregnant, the baby's sex, the woman’s income status, gestational week and the Perception of Gender Scale (p<0.005). A positive but weakly significant relationship was found among the total score on the Perception of Gender Scale, the total score on the Pregnancy Experiences Scale and the average scores of positive emotions intensity and frequency in all sub-dimensions (p<0.005). Conclusion: Based on the data, we conclude that women’s pregnancy experiences are generally positive, and that social gender inequality is a significant determinant affecting pregnancy experiences.

Reproductive and pregnancy control in Wilson disease patients in Spain.

Recommendations on pregnancy, lactation, and contraception in women with Wilson disease are briefly stated in international guidelines but are not entirely homogeneous. Data regarding the management of these special events among patients with Wilson disease in Spain are lacking. We used the Wilson Registry platform of the Spanish Association for the Study of the Liver to question patients on their reproductive and gestational lives. This was a multicentre ambispective study including adult women with Wilson disease in the Spanish Wilson Registry interviewed about their contraception, childbearing, pregnancy, and lactation experiences. Clinical and analytical data were extracted from the registry. The study included 92 women from 17 centres in Spain. Most (63%) reported having a previous pregnancy history. The rate of spontaneous miscarriages was 21.6%, mainly occurring in the first trimester and up to one third among undiagnosed patients. Most pregnant women received chelator therapy during pregnancy, but dose reduction was recommended in less than 10%. After delivery, artificial lactation predominated (60.3%) and its use was mainly based on physician's recommendations (68%). Up to 40% of the women included reported some concerns about their reproductive lives, mainly related to the potential drug toxicity to their children. Most of the patients considered the information given by specialists to be sufficient. Gestational management among women with Wilson disease in Spain was found to be highly heterogeneous and frequently different from what is described in international guidelines. Education on rare liver diseases should be a priority for scientific societies in order to homogenize patient follow-up and recommendations.

Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Postpartum Experiences of Racialised Brazilian Women in Portugal: An Analysis of Obstetric Violence as Gender-Based Violence

As gender-based violence, obstetric violence is a complex phenomenon that represents a matter for debate worldwide. The main objective of this exploratory study is to understand the experiences of obstetric violence during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period of racialised Brazilian women in the Portuguese National Health System. Using a qualitative case study research approach, semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with ten racialised Brazilian women who gave birth in Portugal. A thematic qualitative analysis was used. The findings reveal significant cases of obstetric violence, which include the complexities and lack of support, assistance and monitoring networks, structural inequalities, neglect, and intersectional discriminatory practices based on racial and cultural prejudices, as well as reflection. These experiences not only affect the physical health of mothers but also have profound psychological and emotional consequences. This study highlights the urgent need for culturally sensitive care and the implementation of policies to prevent obstetric violence, ensuring that the rights and dignity of migrant mothers are upheld. By highlighting these critical issues, this study aims to contribute to the broader discourse on maternal health care and promote social justice for these historically marginalised groups.

Adult Experience of Pregnancy and Childbirth in Survivors of Underage Sexual Violence

Objective: Ms. A, who was a victim of sexual violence as a minor, spoke about pregnancy and childbirth as an adult and revealed her thoughts on the medical treatment and care she received. Methods: Semi-structured interview was conducted on zoom using an interview guide about Ms. A's thoughts on pregnancy and childbirth. The contents of the interview were coded using NVivo version 1.6.1, a qualitative data analysis support software. Content analysis was performed on 62 coded data and categorized them. Results: Seven categories were generated: resistance, disgust, pain, flashbacks, childbirth, positive emotions, and children. "Flashbacks" and "resistance," "pain" and "disgust," and "children" and "childbirth" were related. Discussion: It became clear that pregnancy and childbirth are experiences that are connected to past sexual violence victims. Consideration is required for everyone, even if it is supportive care, such as the medical treatment and care that pregnant women receive on a routine basis, or the situation where they touch the female genitals. Even if appropriate support is not available during pregnancy, it is necessary to continue to provide support during the child-rearing period so that pregnancy and childbirth can be viewed in a positive light.

Multiplying Meanings of Pregnancy Through Personal Accounts of Gestational Trophoblastic Disease

In cultures where reproduction is highly medicalised, pregnancy is often understood in terms of foetal development and an anticipated baby. This is connected to a wider privileging of the ‘foetal subject’ in these settings, which has had implications for reproductive autonomy. In this article, I disrupt dominant understandings of pregnancy by engaging with qualitative accounts of gestational trophoblastic disease. This rare condition can entail experiences of pregnancy without foetal development, allowing for scholarly attention to the wider biological, affective and relational constituents of this corporeal event. In this article, I pay particular attention to the ‘pregnancy hormone’ human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which in the context of gestational trophoblastic disease becomes a biomarker for disease. My research extends feminist science studies perspectives destabilising understandings of maternal and foetal bodies as bounded and distinct entities. The article de-centres foetal development as the most significant consequence of conception and enriches feminist discussions of reproductive politics.

Design and implementation of interventions to improve unplanned pregnancy experiences: a mixed-methods study protocol with an interventional design

Design and implementation of interventions to improve unplanned pregnancy experiences: a mixed-methods study protocol with an interventional design

Wait, What? What's Going On?- Pregnancy Experiences of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Mothers Who Do Not Sign.

Deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) women experience higher rates of reproductive healthcare barriers and adverse birth outcomes compared to their hearing peers. This study explores the pregnancy experiences of DHH women who do not sign to better understand their barriers and facilitators to optimal perinatal health care. Qualitative study using thematic analysis. Semi-structured, individual remote, or in-person interviews in the United States. Twenty-two DHH English speakers (non-signers) who gave birth in the United States within the past 5 years. Semi-structured interviews explored how DHH women experienced pregnancy and birth, including access to perinatal information and resources, relationships with healthcare providers, communication access, and their involvement with the healthcare system throughout pregnancy. A thematic analysis was conducted. The barriers and facilitators related to a positive perinatal care experience among DHH women. Five key themes emerged. For barriers, healthcare communication breakdowns and loss of patient autonomy highlighted DHH women's struggle with perinatal health care. In contrast, DHH participants outlined the importance of accessible health communication practices and accommodations, use of patient advocacy or self-advocacy, and assistive technologies for DHH parents for more positive perinatal care experiences. Perinatal healthcare providers and staff should routinely inquire about ways to ensure an inclusive and accessible healthcare experience for their DHH patients and provide communication accommodations for optimal care. Additionally, healthcare providers should be more aware of the unique parenting needs and resources of their DHH patients.

Antenatal Care Services Uptake and Associated Factors in Somaliland: Further Analysis of the 2020 Somaliland Demographic Health Survey

Purpose Antenatal care (ANC) is vital to maintain the health of pregnant women and their unborn babies. It was linked to a positive pregnancy experience. However, ANC uptake remained low in Somaliland, and no study has been conducted to assess possible predictors. Hence, the current study aimed to determine the level of ANC utilization and to identify its associated factors in Somaliland. Materials and Methods Somaliland Demographic Health Survey (SLDHS) Data 2020 were used. A weighted sample of 3,192 women aged 15-49 years participated in the study. The survey used a two-stage cluster design for sample selection. Descriptive statistics in the form of frequency and percentage and multilevel multinomial logistic regression analysis were carried out to determine associated factors and statistical significance was declared by p< 0.05. Results The findings showed that 62.4% (95% CI: 60.7-64.1) of the women did not utilize ANC services, while 23.4% (95% CI: 21.9, 24.9) partially utilized and 14.2% (95% CI: 13.0, 15.4) adequately utilized ANC services. The odds of adequately utilizing ANC service decreased by a factor of 0.88 for women aged 35 and above compared to 15 - 24 year old women (AOR= 0.88, 95% CI: 0.61, 1.26). Women with higher educational levels had significantly higher odds (AOR=4.31, 95% CI: 1.54, 12.02) of adequately utilizing ANC compared to those with no formal education. The employment status, marital status, household wealth index, residence and region were also found to be associated with the utilization of Antenatal care. Conclusion The study showed low adequate utilization of ANC services in Somaliland. The variables, including age, education, wealth index, marital status, employment status, residence and region, were significantly associated with ANC utilization. Governmental and non-governmental organizations should enact a strategy with targeted intervention focusing on women from nomadic and rural communities, those from poor households, and low educational levels.

“A Wild and Inaccessible Place”: The Lived Experiences of Autistic Pregnancy and Birth

“A Wild and Inaccessible Place”: The Lived Experiences of Autistic Pregnancy and Birth

Predictors and number of antenatal care visits among reproductive age women in Sub-Saharan Africa further analysis of recent demographic and health survey from 2017-2023: Zero-inflated negative binomial regression.

Antenatal care (ANC) is an important component of maternal and child health care. To reduce perinatal mortality and improve women's experience of care, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends pregnant women should attend at least eight ANC visits. However, in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), the mean number of ANC visits among reproductive-age women using Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) data following the new WHO recommendation is so far limited. Therefore, the study aimed to determine the mean number of ANC visits and its predictors among reproductive-age women in SSA. Community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 188,880 weighted reproductive-age women in SSA using a recent round of DHS data from 2017-2023. Zero-inflated negative binomial regression (ZINB) was conducted and statistical significance was declared at p-value <0.05 and adjusted incidence rate ratio(AIRR) for count model part and adjusted odds ratio for logit model inflated part of ZINBR with 95% confidence interval (CI) were reported. The mean number of ANC visits among reproductive-age women in SSA was 4.08 with 95%CI [4.07, 4.09]. Among reproductive-age women who gave birth in the last five years before the survey, 7.3% had eight or more ANC visits during pregnancy. Age of women, maternal and husband educational status, types of pregnancy, birth order, household size, number of under-five children, and wealth index were associated with the numbers of ANC visits among reproductive-age women in Sub-Saharan. The mean number of ANC visits among reproductive-age women in SSA is too lower than the new WHO recommendation of ANC visits for a positive pregnancy experience. This study also highlights that the proportion of at least eight ANC visits is low and there are still disparities in the mean of ANC visits across different regions of SSA. The increasing maternal age, higher maternal and husband educational status, wanted pregnancy, the number of household members, the number of under-five children, and higher wealth index increase the number of ANC visits. Unwanted pregnancy, no more fertility desire, and rural residences were contributed for zero ANC visits in SSA. Therefore, efforts should be geared towards improving maternal and husband's educational status. We strongly recommend that the governments of SSA countries should empower women economically and educationally to achieve the goals of ANC as recommended by the WHO.

Serial Multiple Mediation of the Marital Satisfaction and Parenting Competence in the Relationship Between Postpartum Depression and Parent-Infant Attachment in First-Time Parents With Low- and High-Risk Pregnancy Experiences: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Little is known regarding the effects of postpartum depression on parent-infant attachment in high-risk parents. Based on Mercer's theory of becoming a mother, this study aimed to (1) examine the mediating effects of marital satisfaction and parenting competence in the relationship between postpartum depression and parent-infant attachment using a serial mediation model in first-time parent couples during the first 6 months postpartum, and (2) compare the serial mediation models between parents who had experienced low-risk and high-risk pregnancies. In this cross-sectional study, a total of 194 first-time parent couples at 1 to 6 months postpartum were included. Participants completed an online survey on postpartum depression, marital satisfaction, parenting competence, and parent-infant attachment. In both low- and high-risk groups, parenting competence was a common mediator of the impact of postpartum depression on parent-infant attachment. A sequential mediation effect involving both marital satisfaction and parenting competence was observed in high-risk mothers. Our findings suggest that the adverse impacts of postpartum depression on parent-infant attachment can be mitigated by boosting parenting competence or improving the marital satisfaction in couples experiencing first high-risk pregnancy.

Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the experiences of incarcerated pregnant people

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately impacted incarcerated populations, yet few studies have investigated the specific effects on incarcerated pregnant people. This study compares pregnant people’s experiences of pregnancy and parenting in prison before and during the pandemic in order to explore the impacts of COVID-19 on this population.MethodsWe conducted semi-structured interviews with pregnant people at a state prison as part of a larger study on pregnant people’s experiences during incarceration. Interviews explored participants’ experiences and decision-making related to pregnancy and parenting while incarcerated. This secondary analysis compared interviews conducted between June 2019 and March 2020 (pre-COVID-19) to interviews conducted between June and November 2020 (during COVID-19). Interviews conducted during the pandemic included questions about the impact of COVID-19 on participants’ experiences. Brief three and six-month follow-up interviews were conducted when possible.ResultsCOVID-19 introduced new stressors and exacerbated preexisting stressors around participants’ reproductive and parenting experiences. Three major themes emerged: 1) incarceration causes mental, emotional, and physical distress during pregnancy and parenting; 2) COVID-19 worsened conditions of incarceration, contributing to participants’ distress; and 3) the introduction of quarantine protocols during the pandemic felt uniquely punitive for pregnant and postpartum people.ConclusionsThe COVID-19 pandemic was characterized as a major crisis and primary threat to public health, particularly for incarcerated individuals. Yet just as COVID-19 exacerbated preexisting disparities for marginalized, non-incarcerated communities, incarcerated pregnant people similarly described a “worsening” of already-intolerable conditions. The indiscriminate application of quarantine protocols for pregnant people reflects broader carceral logics of control that do not account for the wellbeing of pregnant and postpartum people and their infants, as evidenced by current practices of infant separation, a lack of support, and physically taxing living conditions.

Experiences of teenage pregnancy and its consequences on adolescent girls in rural Sindh, Pakistan

Objective: To explore the challenges of teenage pregnancy experienced by adolescent girls, and its impact on their social and psychological wellbeing. Method: The qualitative study was conducted from August 5 to September 17, 2023, in different villages in northern Sindh after approval from the institutional ethical review board of Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur, Pakistan. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with the subjects who had experienced teenage pregnancy in the preceding 2 years. Data was transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically. Conclusion: Community-based interventions are needed to promote female education that may put an end to adolescent motherhood. Key Words: Teenage pregnancy, Adolescent girls, Socioeconomic status, Education.

What are the experiences of pregnancy for women living with Inflammatory Bowel Disease?

BackgroundInflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a long-term condition affecting the digestive tract and is an umbrella term for two main conditions: ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's Disease (CD), which can cause diarrhoea, anaemia, weight loss, rectal bleeding and abdominal pain. Approximately 500,000 people live with IBD in the UK, with half being diagnosed before the age of 35 years (Ferguson, Mahsud-Dornan, and Patterson 2008). IBD increases the risk of pregnancy complications, with symptoms being unpredictable during pregnancy. MethodsA mixed methods study was undertaken exploring what shaped the experiences of pregnancy for women living with IBD, including an on-line survey and one-to-one interviews. Data from the interviews were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. FindingsExpectations, control and care emerged as key themes which shape the experiences of pregnancy. These included expectations about pregnancy and of those providing care during pregnancy, the positive and negative impact of experienced lack of control and the effects of primary care providers during pregnancy. ConclusionThis novel study enabled women living with IBD to share what shaped their experiences of pregnancy and recommendations about midwifery care to be made. Midwives need to be mindful of the additional risks for women and their babies, and ensure care involves multidisciplinary specialists.

The role of stigma on the pregnancy experiences of women with disabilities in Kathmandu: a qualitative study

Stigma impacts women with disabilities during their pregnancy experiences, specifically through its components; societal beliefs, stereotypes, and attitudes. Through an interpretivist approach, this study addressed how stigma’s components impact the pregnancy experiences of women with disabilities in Kathmandu, especially considering recent policy changes on Nepali disability healthcare. Twelve semi-structured interviews [SSIs] with women with physical or visual disabilities were conducted, with a supplementary focus group discussion [FGD] between mothers without disabilities. Through a Thematic Analysis, themes from the SSIs and FGD were identified. Societal beliefs on disability’s genetic inheritance, stereotypes that the women lack independence and the ability to give birth, and healthcare providers’ negative attitudes impacted the women with disabilities’ pregnancy experiences by socially alienating them. However, positive family attitudes and the women’s own self-empowered beliefs may indicate improvements from policy changes and a subsequent reduction of stigma.

Use of multiple micronutrient supplementation integrated into routine antenatal care: A discussion of research priorities.

Optimal maternal nutrition, including adequate intake and status of essential micronutrients, is important for the health of women and developing infants. Currently, the World Health Organization (WHO) Antenatal care recommendations for a positive pregnancy experience recommend daily iron and folic acid (IFA) supplementation as the standard of care. The use of multiple micronutrient supplements (MMSs) is recommended in the context of rigorous research as more evidence was needed regarding the impact of switching from IFA supplements to MMS, including evaluation of critical clinical maternal and perinatal outcomes, acceptability, feasibility, sustainability, equity and cost-effectiveness. WHO convened a technical consultation of key stakeholders to discuss research priorities with the objective of providing guidance and clarity to donors, implementers and researchers about this recommendation. The overarching principles of the research agenda include the use of clinical indicators and impact measures that are applicable across studies and settings and the inclusion of outcomes that are important to women. Future studies should consider using standardized protocols based on current best practices to measure critical outcomes such as gestational age (GA) and birthweight (BW) in studies. As GA and BW are influenced by multiple factors, more research is needed to understand the biological impact pathways, and how initiation and considerations for timing of MMS influence these outcomes. A set of core clinical indicators was agreed upon during the technical consultation. For implementation research, the Evidence-to-Decision framework was used as a resource for discussing components of implementation research. The implementation research questions, key indicators and performance measures will depend on country-specific context and bottlenecks that require further research and improved solutions to enable the successful implementation of iron-containing supplements.

The Experiences of Pregnancy Among Adolescent Girls in Jordan

ObjectiveTo explore the experience of pregnancy among adolescent girls ages 16 to 19 years in Jordan. DesignDescriptive exploratory qualitative design. SettingParticipants were recruited from antenatal clinics and postpartum wards in Ministry of Health primary health care clinics and hospitals across Jordan. This included a wide geographic area in Jordan that covered several cities: Amman, Zarqa, Irbid, As-Salt, and others. ParticipantsThe total number of participants was 13. Most participants were primiparous, and three were multiparous. Five participants were recruited during the postpartum period, seven in the second and third trimester, and one during the first trimester. MeasurementsData were collected using semistructured and audio-recorded interviews and analyzed concurrently. Thematic analysis was used. A total of 13 interviews were conducted. ResultsTwo core themes emerged from the study: Navigating the Change and Reflecting on the Experience of Pregnancy. The first theme included four subthemes: Making Adjustments, Seeking Support, Searching for Information, and Feeling the Responsibility. ConclusionConsidering the impact of pregnancy on adolescent girls and their fetuses, early marriages should be reconsidered in legal and health policies in Jordan and worldwide. Adolescents expressed a need for more information about pregnancy. Age-appropriate comprehensive sexual education that includes discussion of gender issues and women’s empowerment is needed. Online sources of pregnancy information targeting the needs of adolescents are also recommended. More research is needed to explore the needs of pregnant adolescents in different social and cultural contexts.

Pregnancy, Birth, and Postpartum Experiences of Women Who Were Diagnosed with COVID-19 During Pregnancy: A Qualitative Study in Turkey

This study utilized a qualitative study design to determine the pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experiences of women who were diagnosed with COVID-19 during pregnancy in Turkey. Interviews were conducted with 14 women using the semi-structured interview technique to evaluate their “pregnancy,”“birth,” and “postpartum” experiences. Data were analyzed using qualitative thematic and content analysis methods. Content analysis of the data revealed four main themes. The themes were as follows: Support for a positive pregnancy experience, uncertainty and fear of the COVID-19 diagnosis, effects of the COVID-19 diagnosis on the birth experience, and effects of the COVID-19 diagnosis on postpartum experiences. The results of this study showed that antenatal care expectations of women during pregnancy could not be met, they could not access reliable information, they experienced disruptions in their follow-ups, they were anxious about their own health and the health of their babies, and they had decreased social interaction.

Exploring pregnancy and postpartum experiences among geographically diverse elite athletes: A qualitative study

ObjectivesFemale athletes who experience childbirth during their athletic careers can expect to return to elite sports postpartum and perform at a comparable or improved level. However, mothering athletes often encounter significant barriers when re-entering elite sports. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of a geographically diverse group of mothering athletes who returned to elite sports after childbirth. DesignQualitative phenomenological research design using semi-structured interviews. MethodsIn-depth one-on-one interviews were conducted with nineteen mothering elite running athletes hailing from fourteen different countries. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using thematic analysis. ResultsFindings were generated into five main themes: (1) Deciding to become a mother, (2) revealing pregnancy to stakeholders, (3) experience of pregnancy, (4) combining motherhood and elite running, and (5) improvement strategies to support athlete mothers. The findings revealed that participants experienced stress regarding their pregnancy announcements due to concerns about potential repercussions on their careers. These concerns included the impact on sponsorship deals, relationships with governing bodies, and interactions with their coaches. Participants felt their elite coaches and health practitioners had insufficient education to support them throughout their pregnancies and postpartum return to elite running. Finally, athletes express a sense of diminished pressure and increased motivation in races upon resuming their elite careers, attributing their improved athletic performance postpartum to their shift in focus from themselves to their child. ConclusionsThis study illuminates challenges and offers valuable insights to coaches, sponsors, health practitioners, exercise professionals, researchers, race organizers, and governing athletic bodies in better supporting mothering athletes.