Parenting Fears and Concerns during Pregnancy: A Qualitative Survey
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Procedure and Participants
2.2. Qualitative Survey
2.3. Data Analysis
2.4. Ethical Considerations
3. Results
3.1. Fears and Concerns Shared by Both Groups
“Can one of my small choices ruin the entire life of my child?” (Mary, primipara).
“I’m afraid I’ll never get a good night’s sleep again” (Tina, primipara).
“My main concern was the recurrence of postpartum depression” (Sally, multipara).
“I was also worried about how I would cope after the baby was born, because I was very tired throughout my pregnancy” (Britney, multipara).
“I had concerns about how to be a good mother” (Cindy, primipara).
“I had probably the same thoughts as all expectant mothers about how to survive” (Helen, primipara).
“I worried about how I can guarantee a safe life and environment for my child” (Camilla, multipara).
I was worried about “whether breastfeeding succeeds, whether the feelings of love will awake for the child, whether I can properly take care of the baby” (Emily, primipara).
“The child’s health was a bit of a concern, although there was no specific concern” (Jasmin, primipara).
“How to find time together with my spouse after the birth of the baby” (Barbara, primipara).
3.2. Fears and Concerns Just Expressed by First-Time Mothers
“I was a little worried about everything” (Emma, primipara).
“Intrusive advice in terms of value education” (Linda, primipara).
3.3. Fears and Concerns Just Expressed by Mothers Who Already Had Children
“Can I love both children equally and treat them that way too?” (Sophia, multipara).
“How do I manage to care properly for my baby when I am also caring for a lively three-year-old?” (Penelope, multipara).
“How do I cope with three small children?” (Nora, multipara).
4. Discussion
5. Strengths and Limitations
6. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
- Eurostat. EU Births: Decline Continues, but Not from Foreign-Born Women. 2021. Available online: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-eurostat-news/-/ddn-20210323-2 (accessed on 2 October 2021).
- Vollset, S.E.; Goren, E.; Yuan, C.W.; Cao, J.; Smith, A.E.; Hsiao, T.; Bisignano, C.; Azhar, G.S.; Castro, E.; Murray, C.J.; et al. Fertility, mortality, migration, and population scenarios for 195 countries and territories from 2017 to 2100: A forecasting analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study. Lancet 2020, 396, 1285–1306. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Räisänen, H.; Maunu, T. Effects of Population Changes in the Labour Market: An Analysis of Six European Countries. Publications of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment 2019:59. Helsinki, Finland. Available online: http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-327-470-9 (accessed on 3 October 2021).
- Rotkirch, A.; Tammisalo, K.; Miettinen, A.; Berg, V. Miksi Vanhemmuutta Lykätään?: Nuorten Aikuisten Näkemyksiä Lastensaannista (Why Parenthood Is Postponed ?: Young Adults’ Views on Having Children); Perhebarometri. Väestöliitto: Helsinki, Finland, 2017. (In Finnish) [Google Scholar]
- Melender, H.-L. Fears and coping strategies associated with pregnancy and childbirth in Finland. J. Midwifery Womens Health 2002, 47, 256–263. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- O’Connell, M.; Leahy-Warren, P.; Khashan, A.; Kenny, L.; O’Neill, S. Worldwide prevalence of tocophobia in pregnant women: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Acta Obstet. Gynecol. Scand. 2017, 96, 907–920. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
- Hart, R.; McMahon, C.A. Mood state and psychological adjustment to pregnancy. Arch. Womens Ment. Health 2006, 9, 329–337. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Hanson, S.; Hunter, L.P.; Bormann, J.R.; Sobo, E.J. Paternal fears of childbirth: A literature review. J. Perinat. Educ. 2019, 18, 12–20. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Statham, H.; Green, J.M.; Kafetsios, K. Who worries that something might be wrong with the baby? A prospective study of 1072 pregnant women. Birth 1997, 24, 223–233. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Melender, H.-L.; Lauri, S. Fears associated with pregnancy and childbirth–experience of women who have recently given birth. Midwifery 1999, 15, 177–182. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Bondas, T.; Eriksson, K. Women’s lived experiences of pregnancy: A tapestry of joy and suffering. Qual. Health Res. 2001, 11, 824–840. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Homer, C.; Farrel, T.; Davis, G.; Brown, M. Women’s worry in the antenatal period. Br. J. Midwifery. 2002, 10, 356–360. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Melender, H.-L. Experiences of fears associated with pregnancy and child birth: A study of 329 pregnant women. Birth 2002, 29, 101–111. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Öhman, S.G.; Grunewald, C.; Waldenström, U. Women’s worries during pregnancy: Testing the Cambridge Worry Scale on 200 Swedish women. Scand. J. Caring. Sci. 2003, 17, 148–152. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Turner, K.; Piazzini, A.; Franza, A.; Canger, R.; Canevini, M.P.; Marconi, A.M. Do women with epilepsy have more fear of childbirth during pregnancy compared with women without epilepsy? A Case-Control Study. Birth 2008, 35, 147–152. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Petersen, J.J.; Paulitsch, M.A.; Guethlin, C.; Gensichen, J.; Jahn, A. A survey on worries of pregnant women-testing the German version of the Cambridge Worry Scale. BMC Public Health 2009, 9, 1–9. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
- Peñacoba-Puente, C.; Monge, F.J.C.; Morales, D.M. Pregnancy worries: A longitudinal study of Spanish women. Acta Obstet. Gynecol. Scand. 2011, 90, 1030–1035. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Shahoei, R.; Riji, H.M.; Saeedi, Z.A. Kurdish pregnant women’s feelings: A qualitative study. Midwifery 2011, 27, 215–220. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Sun, H.L.; Sinclair, M.; Kernohan, G.W.; Chang, T.H.; Paterson, H. Sailing against the tide: Taiwanese women’s journey from pregnancy loss to motherhood. MCN Am. J. Matern. Child. Nurs. 2011, 36, 127–133. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Gourounti, K.; Lykeridou, K.; Taskou, C.; Kafetsios, K.; Sandall, J. A survey of worries of pregnant women: Reliability and validity of the Greek version of the Cambridge Worry Scale. Midwifery 2012, 28, 746–753. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Rasmussen, B.; Hendrieckx, C.; Clarke, B.; Botti, M.; Dunning, T.; Jenkins, A.; Speight, J. Psychosocial issues of women with type 1 diabetes transitioning to motherhood: A structured literature review. BMC. Pregnancy. Childbirth 2013, 13, 1–10. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
- Dornelles, L.; MacCallum, F.; Lopes, R.; Piccinini, C.; Passos, E. ‘Living each week as unique’: Maternal fears in assisted reproductive technology pregnancies. Midwifery 2014, 30, 115–120. [Google Scholar]
- Gunay, E.Y.; Gul, A. Reliability and validity of the Cambridge Worry Scale in pregnant Turkish women. Midwifery 2015, 31, 359–364. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Cetişli, N.; Zirek, Z.; Abali, F. Childbirth and postpartum period fear in pregnant women and the affecting factors. Aquichan 2016, 16, 32–42. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Biggs, L.; McLachlan, H.; Shafiei, T.; Liamputtong, P.; Forster, D. ‘I need help’: Reasons new and re-engaging callers contact the PANDA–Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia National Helpline. Health Soc. Care Community 2019, 27, 717–728. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Ladores, S.; Bray, L.; Landier, W.; Cherven, B.; Meneses, K. Fears surrounding pregnancy and motherhood among women with cystic fibrosis. Women’s Healthc. Clin. J. NPs 2018, 6, 26–31. [Google Scholar]
- Lee, A.; Chong, C.; Chiu, H.; Lam, S.; Fong, D. Prevalence, course, and riskfactors for antenatal anxiety and depression. Obstet. Gynecol. 2007, 110, 1102–1112. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Taylor, T. Re-examining cultural contradictions: Mothering ideology and the intersections of class, gender, and race. Sociol. Compass 2011, 5, 898–907. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Nomaguchi, K.M.; Milkie, M.A. Costs and rewards of children: The effects of becoming a parent on adults’ lives. J. Marriage Fam. 2003, 65, 356–374. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Kaitz, M. Maternal concerns during early parenthood. Child Care Health Dev. 2007, 33, 720–727. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Braun, V.; Clarke, V.; Boulton, E.; Davey, L.; McEvoy, C. The online survey as a qualitative research tool. Int. J. Soc. Res. Methodol. 2020, 1–14. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Elo, S.; Kyngäs, H. The qualitative content analysis process. J. Adv. Nurs. 2008, 62, 107–115. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Graneheim, U.H.; Lundman, B. Qualitative content analysis in nursing research: Concepts, procedures and measures to achieve trustworthiness. Nurse. Educ. Today 2004, 24, 105–112. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). 2016. Available online: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0679 (accessed on 2 August 2021).
- WHO. Promoting Baby-Friendly Hospitals. 2018. Available online: https://www.who.int/activities/promoting-baby-friendly-hospitals (accessed on 2 August 2021).
Condensed Meaning Unit 1 | Sub-Category | Category |
---|---|---|
Child’s general health, with no specific reason (4, P) | Baby’s health | Baby’s health and well-being |
Child’s health (4, 22, 42, 50, 60, 63, P; 67, M) | ||
Issues related to the baby’s health (28, P) Baby’s overall health (65, 80, 86, P; 67, 82, M) Baby’s health although everything was okay (82, M) Whether baby is healthy (99, M) | ||
Baby getting sick (6, P) | Baby’s getting sick | |
Baby having problems with bowel function (11, P) Baby experiencing pain (v11, P) | ||
Worrying about the baby (32, P) | Baby’s well-being | |
Worried about sudden infant death syndrome (96, P) Worrying about something happening to the baby (109, P) Worried something bad will happen to the baby (119, P) | ||
Baby displaying fussy behavior (6, P) | Baby’s fussiness | |
Baby crying (11, P) |
Main Category | Category | Sub-Category |
---|---|---|
Fears and concerns shared by both groups | Coping with the future | Challenges of future |
Safeguarging child’s future | ||
Coping with everyday life with a baby | Time management | |
Giving up their own time | ||
Practical arrangements | ||
Being woken up at night | ||
Insomnia | ||
Loneliness | ||
Lack of a supportive network | ||
Psychological distress | Mental burden | |
Changes in their identity | ||
Postpartum depression | ||
Maternal resources | Mother’s own health | |
Mother’s coping | ||
Mother’s fatigue | ||
Being a good enough mother | ||
Parental self-efficacy | Responsibility of being a mother | |
Being a successful mother | ||
Inadequate knowledge of parenting | ||
Inadequate skills of parenting | ||
Meeting their baby’s needs | Ability to create an emotional bond with their child | |
Handling the baby | ||
Ensuring their baby slept well | ||
Breastfeeding | ||
Baby’s health and well-being | Baby health | |
Baby well-being | ||
Baby’s getting sick | ||
Baby’s fussy behavior | ||
Relationship with the partner | Coping of the spouse | |
Health of the spouse | ||
General relationship with the spouse | ||
Sexual relationship with the spouse | ||
Financial situation | Changes in economic status | |
Money and its sufficiency | ||
Fears and concerns just expressed by first-time mothers | Wide-ranging and comprehensive changes | Worry about everything |
Life change | ||
Intrusive outsiders | Criticism of the outsiders | |
Educational advice from third parties | ||
Fears and concerns just expressed by mothers who already had children | Other children’s reactions to the new baby | Small age gap between the children |
Siblings’ reactions | ||
Coping with several children | Sharing attention | |
Creating an emotional bond with the new baby |
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. |
© 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Share and Cite
Wilska, A.; Rantanen, A.; Botha, E.; Joronen, K. Parenting Fears and Concerns during Pregnancy: A Qualitative Survey. Nurs. Rep. 2021, 11, 891-900. https://doi.org/10.3390/nursrep11040082
Wilska A, Rantanen A, Botha E, Joronen K. Parenting Fears and Concerns during Pregnancy: A Qualitative Survey. Nursing Reports. 2021; 11(4):891-900. https://doi.org/10.3390/nursrep11040082
Chicago/Turabian StyleWilska, Alisa, Anja Rantanen, Elina Botha, and Katja Joronen. 2021. "Parenting Fears and Concerns during Pregnancy: A Qualitative Survey" Nursing Reports 11, no. 4: 891-900. https://doi.org/10.3390/nursrep11040082
APA StyleWilska, A., Rantanen, A., Botha, E., & Joronen, K. (2021). Parenting Fears and Concerns during Pregnancy: A Qualitative Survey. Nursing Reports, 11(4), 891-900. https://doi.org/10.3390/nursrep11040082