The Experience of Healthy Pregnancy in High Parity Women: A Phenomenological Study in North Jordan

Abstract

Background and Objectives: High parity women are more likely to have poor quality of life during pregnancy than low parity women. Thus, the aim of this study was to explore the lived experience of healthy pregnancy among high parity women in North Jordan. Materials and Methods: A descriptive phenomenological design was employed in this study to complement previously published quantitative results. Fourteen pregnant women, who had four children or more, were recruited purposely according to inclusion criteria from Irbid city in North Jordan. Data were collected using face-to-face, semi-structured interviews. Colaizzi’s method was employed to analyze the verbatim data. Results: There were three main themes which emerged from participants significant statements: they had new discomforts, antenatal care and follow-up, and social issues. Each extracted theme was linked to some factors (subthemes), which had a positive or negative impact on the quality of life of high parity women during pregnancy. High parity women who experienced multiple stressors had a poor quality of life. Conclusions: Experiencing new discomforts, less or no antenatal care, and a lack of social support negatively affected the quality of life among high parity women. Antenatal interventions should be designed based on high parity women’s perceptions of their health and wellbeing in order to improve their quality of life and ultimately prevent maternal morbidity and mortality. Further quantitative studies are needed to explore the impact of previous mentioned factors on maternal quality of life and outcomes.