Abstract
Background
Pregnant women find themselves subject to comments and questions from people in public
areas. Normally, becoming ‘public property’ is considered friendly and is relatively
easy for pregnant women to deal with. However, following diagnosis of a foetal anomaly,
the experience of being public property can exacerbate the emotional turmoil experienced
by couples. Original research question: What is the experience of couples who continue
pregnancy following the diagnosis of a foetal anomaly?
Method
The study used an interpretive design informed by Merleau-Ponty and this paper reports
on a subset of findings. Thirty-one interviews with pregnant women and their partners
were undertaken following the diagnosis of a serious or lethal foetal anomaly. Women
were between 25 and 38 weeks gestation at the time of their first interview. The non-directive
interviews were audio-taped, transcribed verbatim and the transcripts were thematically
analysed.
Findings
A prominent theme that emerged during data analysis was that pregnancy is embodied
therefore physically evident and ‘public’. Women found it difficult to deal with being
public property when the foetus had a serious or lethal anomaly. Some women avoided
social situations; others did not disclose the foetal condition but gave minimal or
avoidant answers to minimise distress to themselves and others. The male participants
were not visibly pregnant and they could continue life in public without being subject
to the public's gaze, but they were very aware and concerned about its impact on their
partner.
Conclusion
The public tend to assume that pregnancy is normal and will produce a healthy baby.
This becomes problematic for women who have a foetus with an anomaly. Women use strategies
to help them cope with becoming public property during pregnancy. Midwives can play
an important role in reducing the negative consequences of a woman becoming public
property following the diagnosis of a foetal anomaly.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: June 25, 2012
Accepted:
May 26,
2012
Received in revised form:
May 25,
2012
Received:
March 20,
2012
Identification
Copyright
© 2012 Australian College of Midwives. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
