Purpose: This study aimed to explore the lived experience and meaning of pregnant women’s adaptation. Methods: Ten pregnant women living in Daejeon and Sejong agreed to participate in this study. The data were collected through telephone in-depth interviews regarding ‘pregnant women’s adaptation. The qualitative data were analyzed using Giorgi’s method of descriptive phenomenology. Results: Five core situation components were extracted from the raw data, along with 12 themes and 33 focal meanings. The five core situations were 1) the situation when the woman first recognized the pregnancy, 2) the situation of change related with pregnancy, 3) the situation related to the upcoming birth, 4) postpartum-related situations, and 5) the situation related to parenting. The 12 themes were as follows: “anxiety, pressure, and embarrassment due to pregnancy,” “efforts to adapt to physical changes,” “efforts to adapt to the psychological difficulties of pregnancy,” “efforts to adapt to the financial burden and role changes caused by pregnancy,” “connecting with the fetus,” “adapting to a new marital relationship centering on the baby,” “the frustration of childbirth,” “fear of childbirth,” “postpartum care, need help with lactation planning,” “parenting beyond one’s imagination,” “dad’s willingness to participate in parenting,” and “career disconnect and consideration of workplace needs.” Conclusion We conclude that pregnant women experience adaptation in physical, psychological, relational, and social aspects. The thematic clusters identified in the results might be used to develop a nursing intervention to promote adaptation to pregnancy among pregnant women.

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the lived experience and meaning of pregnant women’s adaptation. Methods: Ten pregnant women living in Daejeon and Sejong agreed to participate in this study. The data were collected through telephone in-depth interviews regarding ‘pregnant women’s adaptation. The qualitative data were analyzed using Giorgi’s method of descriptive phenomenology. Results: Five core situation components were extracted from the raw data, along with 12 themes and 33 focal meanings. The five core situations were 1) the situation when the woman first recognized the pregnancy, 2) the situation of change related with pregnancy, 3) the situation related to the upcoming birth, 4) postpartum-related situations, and 5) the situation related to parenting. The 12 themes were as follows: “anxiety, pressure, and embarrassment due to pregnancy,” “efforts to adapt to physical changes,” “efforts to adapt to the psychological difficulties of pregnancy,” “efforts to adapt to the financial burden and role changes caused by pregnancy,” “connecting with the fetus,” “adapting to a new marital relationship centering on the baby,” “the frustration of childbirth,” “fear of childbirth,” “postpartum care, need help with lactation planning,” “parenting beyond one’s imagination,” “dad’s willingness to participate in parenting,” and “career disconnect and consideration of workplace needs.” Conclusion We conclude that pregnant women experience adaptation in physical, psychological, relational, and social aspects. The thematic clusters identified in the results might be used to develop a nursing intervention to promote adaptation to pregnancy among pregnant women.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of antenatal depression in pregnant women and its influencing factors. METHODS: With a cross-sectional survey design, a total of 396 pregnant women were recruited from a local obstetrics and gynecology clinic. Measurements included antenatal depression, perceived stress, predictors of depression during pregnancy, and demographic and obstetric characteristics. RESULTS: Mean antenatal depression score was 8.20 (standard deviation=4.95) out of 30, falling into its normal range. However, the prevalence of antenatal depression was 35.9% when cut-point of 9/10 was used. The prevalence of antenatal depression among women in the first trimester was 31.4%. It was slightly increased to 34.9% in the second trimester but significantly increased to 40.5% in the third trimester. In multiple logistic regression analysis, experiencing prenatal anxiety (odds ratio [OR], 4.16), having no job (OR, 2.90), lower self-esteem (OR, 1.62), and higher perceived stress (OR, 1.32) were significant factors influencing antenatal depression. CONCLUSION: Negative feeling such as feeling anxious, lower self-esteem, and higher perceived stress during pregnancy are key factors affecting antenatal depression. Thus, antenatal nursing intervention focusing on pregnant women's feeling upon their job status is necessary to improve their antenatal psychological well-being.
Accidental Falls ; Anxiety ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Depression ; Female ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Maternal Health ; Nursing ; Obstetrics ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, First ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third ; Pregnant Women ; Prevalence ; Reference Values

Purpose: This study was conducted to develop a couple-centered antenatal education program and to test the program’s feasibility. Methods: With a preliminary-experimental study design, 33 pregnant couples who were expecting their first child participated in this study. The program consisted of four sessions (1 hour/session/week) of education and counseling. Data were collected before and after the intervention from September 2018 to April 2019 at a women’s hospital in Daejeon, Korea, with demographic data forms, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, Maternal–Fetal Attachment Scale, Korean Newborn Care Confidence Scale, Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire, and Dyadic Adjustment Scale-10. Results: The pregnant women and their husbands were on average 32.30±3.11 and 33.21±6.25 years old, respectively. The mean marriage duration was 2.34±1.63 years, the gestational age was 31.30±2.66 weeks, and 78.8% of the couples had a planned pregnancy. After the program, both the pregnant women and their husbands showed significant improvements in attachment to the fetus and confidence in providing infant care. Prenatal depression, prenatal stress, and fear of childbirth in pregnant women significantly decreased after completing the program. However, the dyadic adjustment score did not change significantly either in the pregnant women or their husbands. Conclusion A couple-centered antenatal education program seems to be effective for couples adjusting to parenthood, but further studies should explore ways to have a positive impact on couples’ relationships.

Purpose: This study was conducted to develop a couple-centered antenatal education program and to test the program’s feasibility. Methods: With a preliminary-experimental study design, 33 pregnant couples who were expecting their first child participated in this study. The program consisted of four sessions (1 hour/session/week) of education and counseling. Data were collected before and after the intervention from September 2018 to April 2019 at a women’s hospital in Daejeon, Korea, with demographic data forms, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, Maternal–Fetal Attachment Scale, Korean Newborn Care Confidence Scale, Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire, and Dyadic Adjustment Scale-10. Results: The pregnant women and their husbands were on average 32.30±3.11 and 33.21±6.25 years old, respectively. The mean marriage duration was 2.34±1.63 years, the gestational age was 31.30±2.66 weeks, and 78.8% of the couples had a planned pregnancy. After the program, both the pregnant women and their husbands showed significant improvements in attachment to the fetus and confidence in providing infant care. Prenatal depression, prenatal stress, and fear of childbirth in pregnant women significantly decreased after completing the program. However, the dyadic adjustment score did not change significantly either in the pregnant women or their husbands. Conclusion A couple-centered antenatal education program seems to be effective for couples adjusting to parenthood, but further studies should explore ways to have a positive impact on couples’ relationships.