Table 2 Extracted sub-themes and themes related to the experiences of women with multiple gestations in this study
From: Exploring the lived experiences of women with multiple gestations in Iran: a phenomenological study
Main Theme | sub-Themes | Main Codes |
|---|---|---|
Paradox of Emotions | Hope in the heart of darkness | - Doubt and hope in the fetus’s health - Doubt and hope in completing the pregnancy - Doubt and hope in the diagnosis of multiple gestations |
Contradiction of happiness and sadness | - Valuable difficulty - Contradiction of happiness and sadness - The paradox of emotions about being overweight - Multiple Gestations as an opportunity in the heart of a threat | |
The pregnancy Prison | Physical and behavioral restrictions | - Feeling of lack of energy and fatigue - Inability to manage life affairs - Absolute Rest - Reducing risky behaviors - Restrictions on food intake |
The feeling of being trapped | - Counting the days for childbirth - Feeling of being trapped - Mother’s invisible problems - Feeling of lack of control over pregnancy - Feeling of exhausted | |
Social restrictions | - Isolation - Lower job and educational opportunities - Difficult access to treatment facilities - Unreasonable expectations | |
Economic restrictions | - High costs of treatment and diagnostic procedures - Poor housing condition - Fear of inability to bear the costs of raising children - Inadequate insurance coverage | |
Inadequate Health System Services | - Unnecessary tests and examinations - Care without compassion from the treatment staff - Unfavorable facilities and equipment - The unfamiliar and stressful hospital setting - Disclosing the news of multiples in an inappropriate way | |
Immersion in Fear | Overwhelming Shock | - Shock and neglect - Breaking the fertility rules - Being abandoned in the path of the unknown - Contrast of expectation and reality |
Inevitable changes | - Musculoskeletal pains - Skin and hair problems - Hormonal problems - Digestive problems - Disrupted sleep patterns - Genital and urinary problems - Cardiovascular problems - Placental problems - Multiple hospitalizations - Abnormalities in blood tests - High blood pressure - Physical and appearance changes - Changes in lifestyle | |
Inner Turmoil | - Self-blame - Decreased self-image - Decreased self-confidence - Seeking induced abortion - Disrupting the routine of life - Feeling confused | |
Psychological and emotional anxieties | - Fear of abortion - Fear of premature birth - Fear of the future - Fear of fetal abnormalities - Fear of maternal complications | |
Stress-Exacerbating Factors | - History of abortion - History of fetal abnormalities - History of infertility - Negative attitude towards Multiple Gestations - Mother’s underlying disease - Unplanned pregnancy - Social network-induced stress - The medical staff-induced stress | |
The crystallization of Maternal Love | Fulfilling the dream of motherhood | - Enduring hardships for the love of children - Higher self-care - Mother’s devotion - The fetus’s health is the most crucial priority of the mother |
Heartwarming Connection with the Fetus | - Fetal movements that increase maternal love - Creation of a sense of belonging - The healing sound of the fetal heart - a pleasant connection with the fetus - Distinguishing a separate identity for the fetus | |
A Sense of Personal Growth | - Pregnancy as the complementation of a woman’s identity - Pregnancy as the complementation of the whole family - Changing the way of looking at life - Pregnancy as an opportunity for growth and excellence | |
Peace of mind | - Consolatory support from husband and family - Connecting to supernatural power - Multiple Gestations as the fulfillment of a dream - Multiple Gestations as a compensator for years of infertility | |
Feeling happy | - Pregnancy as a marital lifesaver - Happiness from the fetus’s growth - Beautiful waiting - Feeling proud |