Abstract
Background
Experiencing complications in pregnancy is stressful for women and can impact on fetal
and maternal outcomes. Supportive encounters with health professionals can reduce
the worry women experience. Further research is needed to understand women’s perspectives
on communicating with their healthcare providers about their concerns.
Aim
This study explored women’s experiences of receiving information about pregnancy complications
from healthcare providers and their interactions with multiple professionals and services
during pregnancy.
Methods
This was a qualitative interpretive study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted
with 20 women experiencing pregnancy complications recruited from antenatal services
at two hospitals in Sydney. Inductive thematic analysis was used to analyse the data.
Findings
Women had a range of reactions to their diagnoses, including concern for their baby,
for themselves and for their labour. Most women reported that communication with healthcare
providers was distressing, they were not listened to and staff used insensitive, abrupt
language. Women were also distressed by delays in education, receiving contradictory
information and having to repeatedly share their stories with different health professionals.
In some cases, this damaged the therapeutic relationship and reduced trust towards
healthcare providers. Midwives were generally preferred over doctors because they
had a more woman-centred approach.
Conclusion
To improve women’s experiences of care for pregnancy complications, it is critical
to improve the communication skills of maternity service providers. Women’s need for
information, resources and support can best be provided by continuity of care with
a named health professional, for example, a midwife working within an integrated multidisciplinary
antenatal service model.
Abbreviations:
GDM (Gestational Diabetes Mellitus), GP (General Practitioner)Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: December 31, 2021
Accepted:
December 7,
2021
Received in revised form:
December 7,
2021
Received:
May 20,
2021
Identification
Copyright
© 2021 Australian College of Midwives. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
