The lived experience of women with a high-risk pregnancy: A phenomenology investigation

Background: Pregnancy is a time of transformation, hope, expectation, and worry for women and their families - none more so than when the pregnancy is at-risk. The objective of this study was to describe the lived experience of women during high-risk pregnancy. Methods: This qualitative investigation utilized a hermeneutic phenomenology study. The study was conducted in a public health center in a large urban area in southeast Iran. Purposive sampling of 20 women with a high-risk pregnancy. Participants included both nulligravid and multigravid women in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy with varied medical conditions. Data collection used face-to-face interview with transcribed data analyzed using Braun and Clarke's six stage thematic analysis approach. Results: Four themes were extracted and included challenge of family in high-risk pregnancy, challenge of anticipation for motherhood, and challenges for future pregnancies, and challenge of adaptation. Conclusions: Findings demonstrate that women with a high-risk pregnancy struggle to adapt with burdens related to successful maternal role attainment and family functioning. Fears about pregnancy outcome and future pregnancies are dominant. (c) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.