Embodied experiences of prenatal diagnosis of fetal abnormality and pregnancy termination

Datos Bibliográficos

ID3973113
AutoresPenelope Pitt (0000-0002-4869-836X, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, autor de correspondencia), Belinda J Mcclaren, Belinda Mcclaren (0000-0002-1372-8258, The University of Melbourne), Jan Hodgson (0000-0001-7821-9617, Murdoch Children's Research Institute)
Año2016
Volumen24
Número47
Páginas168-177
Fecha de publicación2016-01-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessNo
TipoARTICLE
RevistaReproductive Health Matters (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0968-8080 • E-ISSN: 1460-9576
EditorialInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1016/j.rhm.2016.04.003
PMID27578350
OpenAlexW2399797700
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas7
Referencias citadas23

Pregnant women routinely undergo prenatal screening in Australia and this has become a common experience of motherhood. When prenatal screening or prenatal testing results in diagnosis of a serious fetal abnormality, women are presented with a decision to continue or terminate their pregnancy. Few recent studies have explored women's psychosocial experience of prenatal diagnosis and pregnancy termination for fetal abnormality, and within this small group of studies it is rare for research to consider the embodied aspect of women's experiences. This paper reports on qualitative findings from in-depth interviews with 59 women in Melbourne, Australia who received a prenatal diagnosis of a significant abnormality and decided to terminate the pregnancy. Interview transcripts were coded inductively through thematic analysis. Two themes about embodiment were generated from the interviews: transitioning embodiment, and vulnerable bodies in un/comfortable spaces. Theory of pregnant embodiment was drawn on in interpreting women's narratives. Recommendations arising from the analysis include health professionals recognising, acknowledging and accommodating the transitioning embodied state of women as they consider, prepare for, undergo and recover from pregnancy termination for fetal abnormality. Further recommendations address the connections and disconnections between this transitioning embodied state and the spaces of clinics, hospitals and home

Abnormality · Embodied cognition · Fetus · Obstetrics · Pregnancy · Pregnancy termination · Prenatal diagnosis · Psychiatry · Psychosocial · Qualitative research · Sociology · Thematic analysis · Ethics and Legal Issues in Pediatric Healthcare · Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health · Medicine · Prenatal Screening and Diagnostics · Psychology