High-Risk Pregnancy and Hospitalization: The Women's Voices

Abstract

The study is a phenomenological analysis of 10 focus groups with Israeli women who were hospitalized because of high-risk pregnancy. The goal of this study was to understand the lived experience of hospitalization due to high-risk pregnancy. Five themes were recognized: (1) the desire to nurture and the social pressure to do so; (2) the personal and social meaning of a family; (3) loss of normal experiences of life and childbearing; (4) the woman's needs versus the fetus's well-being; and (5) sources of strength and stress. Conflicting relationships recognized within and between the themes pointed to ambivalence as the core characteristic of the experience. Practical implications and further research are recommended to better inform health care personnel and social workers assisting these women.

A metasynthesis of risk perception in women with high risk pregnancies

“…High risk pregnancy is a process characterised by ambivalence. Women simultaneously experience anxiety and hope -they both want a baby and yet fear the risks of the pregnancy (Leichentritt et al 2005). Women in the studies displayed such ambivalence, describing using both hope as a coping strategy in high risk situations and the fear of developing a deep attachment when there was still a chance of losing their infants.…”

“…Women whose pregnancies are diagnosed as high risk may experience many emotions including fear, anger, loneliness, frustration and hope (Leichentritt et al 2005;Loos and Julius 1989;McCain and Deatrick 1994). Exactly how they feel about the pregnancy will be affected by how they perceive the level of risk.…”

Percepção materna com o nascimento prematuro e vivência da gravidez com pré-eclampsia

“…12,19 In addition to that, it is believed that delivery may be preceded by a period of increased anxiety, aggravated by early maternal hospitalization and pregnancy interruption. 10 This event changes the natural birth rhythm, provoking maternal feelings of despair, fear and anxiety. * Thus, psychological and emotional support should be part of women health care, especially those prone to pregnancy complications, in particular, newborns weighing less than 2,500 grams 6 and consequent hospitalizations in neonatal intensive care units (NICU).…”

Inequalities in Reproductive Health

“…Social work engagement in other areas of reproductive health appears limited: adolescent and teen pregnancy (de Anda, 2006;Marx and Hopper, 2005;Rothenberg and Weissman, 2002;Sangalang et al, 2006); 'high risk' pregnancy (Leichtentritt et al, 2005), and sex selection (Hollingsworth, 2005).…”