Exploring the lived experiences of pregnancy and early motherhood in Italian women with congenital heart disease: an interpretative phenomenological analysis

Flocco, Serena Francesca; Caruso, Rosario; Barello, Serena; Nania, Tiziana; Simeone, Silvio; Dellafiore, Federica

doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2019-034588

Cited by 15 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…Resilience has been extensively researched concerning adjustment, positive psychological changes, and growth following adversity (Brémault-Phillips et al, 2020;Cheadle et al, 2020;Roepke & Seligman, 2014;Schaefer et al, 2019). Adaptation and positive changes are also reported in a study with pregnant women diagnosed with CHD and type 1 diabetes mellitus (Flocco et al, 2020;Sparud-Lundin & Berg, 2011). We also noted features of positive change and resilience in our study sample in Bosnia.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

The Lived Experiences of Pregnancy and Motherhood in Bosnian Women During COVID-19

Draganović

Bosankic

Ramic

2021

European Journal of Psychology Open

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Abstract. Introduction: Prenatal, perinatal and postnatal period result in series of psychological, physical, relational and emotional changes and adjustments while during the pandemic pregnant women and mothers of young children must also cope with the fear of themselves, their fetuses, or children being infected. Aim: The aim of study was to explore the lived experiences of pregnant women and mothers living in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the COVID-19 outbreak. Methods: Semi-structured in-depth interviews with 30 Bosnian women, 15 of whom were pregnant and 15 who are mothers that gave birth during the COVID-19 pandemic were conducted. Participants were recruited through two local women’s associations. The data was analyzed utilized inductively using an interpretative phenomenological analysis. Results: The study results indicate that both pregnant women and mothers alike described negative and positive feelings about pregnancy and motherhood during the COVID-19 pandemic such as fear and hope. The lived experiences of anxiety and adaptation through two core concepts: trapped in the fear of the unknown and adapting and embracing uncertainty. Discussion: The main themes that emerged from the interviews reveal grounded fear but also adaptability. Even though people have amazing abilities to adapt to adverse life conditions, as women in our study demonstrate, many aspects of the pandemic’s impacts on vulnerable populations are still unexplored. Tailor-made public health strategies such as an online counseling platform should be created to accommodate specific needs and issues of this population.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

The Lived Experiences of Pregnancy and Motherhood in Bosnian Women During COVID-19

Draganović

Bosankic

Ramic

2021

European Journal of Psychology Open

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“…In this context, Nakamura et al revealed that some women might feel guilty in regard to possible risks for their own or their child's health or even for not being able to start a family with their partner. Flocco et al identified the fear of dying during pregnancy or birth as another burdensome factor for women with CHD (20). Even though women feel that having a child is part of a normal life and have a strong desire to become a mother, some women experienced the way towards pregnancy as highly burdensome.…”

Section: Mental Outcomes In Postpartum Women With Chdmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…They seem to look at pregnancy as one of the greatest battles of their life and therefore are proud and relieved to have won this fight (20). Furthermore, parenthood can lead to an increase in the sense of meaning and purpose (30).…”

Section: Mental Outcomes In Postpartum Women With Chdmentioning

confidence: 99%

Psychosocial well-being in postpartum women with congenital heart disease

Freiberger¹,

Beckmann²,

Freilinger³

et al. 2022

Cardiovasc Diagn Ther

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Background: Improved treatment options for congenital heart disease (CHD) lead to a growing number of women with CHD at reproductive age. Due to physical and psychological burden, pregnancies in women with CHD often count for high-risk. Resulting emotional distress can adversely impact pregnancy, motherhood and fetal health. The present study aims to retrospectively investigate mental outcomes and indices of adjustment in women with CHD before, during and after pregnancy. The novel concept of illness identity is applied to explain how patients experience and integrate their CHD into their identities.Methods: Patient-reported outcome measures on mental functioning and illness identity were assessed in a sample of 121 postpartum women with CHD [mean age: 42.7±9.2 (range, 27-81) years] at the German Heart Centre Munich between August and November 2021 in a cross-sectional design. Descriptive analyses, correlations and linear regression models were calculated.Results: Retrospectively assessed prevalence of emotional distress before giving birth was high (47.0%) and peaked shortly after childbirth in terms of elevated symptoms of postpartum depression and trauma. During the course of maternity, emotional distress decreased significantly (24.1%, P<0.001). Overall, postpartum women demonstrated high scores in functional illness identity states (i.e., acceptance and enrichment) and low scores in dysfunctional states (i.e., rejection and engulfment). CHD severity was not directly associated with mental outcomes (P>0.05), whereas maternal cardiovascular risk, according to the WHO classification, was significantly associated with a higher prevalence of postpartum trauma (t=2.485, P=0.015).Conclusions: Postpartum mental health problems, such as (postpartum) depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress can become a serious burden which might be detrimental to the mother's well-being and her infant's development. Present findings emphasise the urgent need for a holistic approach focusing on pregnant women with CHD starting at the prepartum stage to prevent adverse consequences and promote maternal well-being. Illness identity might become an important target construct for clinical practice as it may positively and enduringly influence mental well-being of pregnant women with CHD.

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“…The multidisciplinary nature of the research team, and the consequent integration of different perspectives and experiences, was also important during the analytic process ( Smith et al, 2009 ). In fact, the findings were constantly shared and discussed with the whole team, which enhanced the researchers’ reflexivity and thus reduced the influence of their preconceptions and biases on the analytic process, with increased rigor ( Smith et al, 2009 ; Larkin, 2018 ; Fiocco et al, 2020 ). Field notes were taken during and after each interview as an audit trail and were used to increase the quality of textual analysis.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“Lights and Shadows”: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of the Lived Experience of Being Diagnosed With Breast Cancer During Pregnancy

et al. 2021

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Cancer diagnosed during pregnancy is a rare event. The most common type of malignancy diagnosed in pregnant women is breast cancer, whose incidence is expected to raise in the next future due to delayed childbirth, as well as to the increased occurrence of the disease at young age. Pregnant women diagnosed with breast cancer are exposed to multiple sources of stress, which may lead to poorer obstetric outcomes, such as preterm birth and low birth weight. In addition, pregnancy involves physiological changes in the breasts that may blur the signs of cancer, with delayed diagnosis and poor prognosis. However, the lived experience of these women was investigated in very few studies. Given this scenario, we conducted this qualitative study to describe and understand women’s subjective experience of being diagnosed with breast cancer during pregnancy. The study was conducted following the principles of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Participants were five women with breast cancer diagnosed during pregnancy, purposefully recruited at a public hospital during medical visits and interviewed at treatment initiation. The interview transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis. The textual analysis led to the identification of three main themes related to: (1) the emotional storm experienced after cancer diagnosis, and the importance of receiving appropriate information and being focused on treatment decisions; (2) physical changes and comparisons with healthy women, associated with feelings of sadness and inadequacy; (3) being positive, feeling free to disclose all kinds of emotions, religion and spirituality as sources of strength. The paradoxical coexistence of pregnancy and cancer represents a stressful experience for women and their loved ones. Adopting a systemic perspective may be important to understand the effects of such a complex condition, also considering its impact on healthcare workers.

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Exploring the lived experiences of pregnancy and early motherhood in Italian women with congenital heart disease: an interpretative phenomenological analysis

Cited by 15 publications

References 38 publications

The Lived Experiences of Pregnancy and Motherhood in Bosnian Women During COVID-19

The Lived Experiences of Pregnancy and Motherhood in Bosnian Women During COVID-19

Psychosocial well-being in postpartum women with congenital heart disease

“Lights and Shadows”: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of the Lived Experience of Being Diagnosed With Breast Cancer During Pregnancy

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