Journal List > Korean J Women Health Nurs > v.23(2) > 1089584

Hong and Park: A Phenomenological Study on the Spontaneous Abortion Experiences of Women

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to explore essences and meaning in experiences of women who have had spontaneous abortion.

Methods

A phenomenological methodology was used for the study. A total of five women with the spontaneous abortion participated in the study. In-depth interviews were done for data collection, and the data were analyzed using Colaizzi's method.

Results

Five theme clusters, along with 32 sub-themes and 13 themes. The five theme clusters were: ‘Waiting and expecting pregnancy’, ‘Desire to overcome the spontaneous abortion’, ‘My baby makes me cry and laugh’, ‘My precious baby’, and ‘Want to hear with sympathy and talk with you’.

Conclusion

The women who have had the spontaneous abortion experiences can prevent potential physical and psychological complications after miscarriage by getting education and intervention in nursing. Moreover, they may experience that negative factors of the spontaneous abortion can be turned into positive things through emotional support of family and medical teams.

Figures and Tables

Table 1

Demographic Characteristics of Participants

kjwhn-23-63-i001
No. of participants Age Education level Occupation Religion Marital status Number of children Health status Frequency of abortion Economic level
Participant 1 35 Bachelor degree Nurse Christian Married None Good 2 Average
Participant 2 36 Master degree Nurse Christian Married None Good 2 Average
Participant 3 43 Doctoral degree Professor Buddhism Married None Good 3 Above average
Participant 4 37 Master degree Veterinarian None Married 1 son Good 2 Above average
Participant 5 43 High school graduate Unemployed Catholicism Married 3 daughters Good 3 Below average
Table 2

Process of Categorizing

kjwhn-23-63-i002
Theme clusters Themes Sub-themes
Waiting and expecting pregnancy Pregnancy as natural and reasonable Natural pregnancy
A desperate desire for pregnancy Desperately waiting for pregnancy
Can be happy only with husband
Expectations on medical science
Postpone pregnancy
Desire to overcome the spontaneous abortion Difficulty because of natural abortion Thoughts about infertility
Distressful inner conflict
Thoughts about procedure
Getting over with sorrow Cherish hope
Ominous symptom of my body Sad memory
Feeling of helplessness
Self-examination
Coexistence of expectation and anxiety
My baby makes me cry and laugh An incredible pleasure of pregnancy Thoughts about abortion
Process before giving birth
Fade away hope like foam Accepting abortion
Crying helps
Physical treatment
Rely on religious belief-religious belief change process
Trying hard by alone Unrecovered mind
Changes due to abortion
Postnatal care after abortion
Crying all day
Back to daily life after abortion Changes after abortion
Abortion process-back to daily life
Self-justification about pregnancy after abortion
Conflict reality
My precious baby Child as the first priority Placing child at the first priority
My baby by buried in my heart It's still my baby even though miscarriage
Want give birth to baby on my heart Considering adoption
Want to hear with sympathy and talk with you Visible communication Supporting from people around
Invisible communication Communication on cyber space

Summary Statement

▪ What is already known about this topic?
Many studies are primarily focus on negative emotions and the economic and social support methods of infertility. But research on spontaneous abortion experience is hardly being done.
▪ What this paper adds?
The experience in women with spontaneous abortion was expressed through life process such the components which ‘Waiting and expecting pregnancy,’ ‘Desire to overcome the spontaneous abortion’, ‘My baby makes me cry and laugh’, ‘My precious baby’, ‘Want to hear with sympathy and talk with you’.
▪ Implications for practice, education and/or policy
The women who have had spontaneous abortion can prevent potential physical and psychological complications after miscarriage by getting the education and intervention in nursing.

References

1. de la Rochebrochard E, Thonneau P. Paternal age and maternal age are risk factors for miscarriage: Results of a multi-centre European study. Hum Reprod. 2002; 17(6):1649–1656.
crossref
2. Lok IH, Yip AS, Lee DT, Sahota D, Chung TK. A 1-year longitudinal study of psychological morbidity after miscarriage. Fertil Steril. 2010; 93(6):1966–1975.
crossref
3. Seoul statistics. e-Seoul statistics [Internet]. 2009. cited 2014 Nov 1. Available from: http://stat.seoul.go.kr/pdf/e-webjin17.pdf.
4. Griebel CP, Halvorsen J, Golemon TB, Day AA. Management of spontaneous abortion. Am Fam Physician. 2005; 72(7):1243–1250.
5. McQuillan J, Stone RAT, Greil AL. Infertility and life satisfaction among women. J Fam Issues. 2007; 28(7):955–981.
crossref
6. Shellenberg KM. Abortion stigma in the united states: Quantitative and qualitative perspectives from women seeking an abortion [Dissertation]. Maryland: The Johns Hopkins University;2010. 263.
7. Podolska MZ, Bidzan M. Infertility as a psychological problem. Ginekol Pol. 2011; 82(1):44–49.
8. Ha YY. Hermeneutic phenomenological understanding on lived experiences of infertile women participating in mindbody program. [dissertation]. Seoul: Seoul Women' University;2013. 145.
9. Kang EY. Cognitive behavioral therapy for psychosocial adjustment of infertile women [dissertation]. Seoul: Myongji University;2015. 196.
10. Korea Ministry of Government Legislation. The labor standard act. [Internet]. Sejong: Author;2011. cited 2014 November 1. Available from: http://www.law.go.kr/LSW/LsiJoLinkP.do?docType=JO&lsNm=%EA%B7%BC%EB%A1%9C%EA%B8%B0%EC%A4%80%EB%B2%95&joNo=KO&paras=1#.
11. Lee KA. A study of feminist pastoral counseling for the infertile women. [dissertation]. Seoul: Ewha Womans University;2014. 232.
12. Colaizzi PF. Psychological research as the phenomenologist views it. In : Valle RS, King M, editors. Existential phenomenological alternatives for psychology. New York: Oxford University Press;1978. p. 48–71.
13. Lincoln YS, Guba EG. Naturalistic Inquiry. California: Sage Publications;1985. p. 416.
14. Creswell JW, Miller DL. Determining validity in qualitative inquiry. Theory Pract. 2000; 39(3):124–130.
crossref
15. Schwandt HM. Abortion, unmet need, and family planning service provision among gynecology patients in Ghana [Dissertation]. Maryland: The Johns Hopkins University;2009. 203.
16. Kim SK. Some thoughts about the MB Government's social policy. Health Welf Policy Forum. 2012; 189:5–24.
17. Bae GI, Kim KS. A study on the influence of family values and birth policy on the wanted fertility rate. Korean J Soc Welf Stud. 2012; 43(3):239–266.
18. Kim WS. A phenomenological study on the adoption experience of infertility women. J Fam Couns. 2012; 2(2):49–73.
19. Medoff MH. Unintended pregnancy and abortion access in the United States. Int J Popul Res. 2012; 254315:1–9.
crossref
20. HaCohen N, Amir D, Wiseman H. Women's narratives of crisis and change: Transitioning from infertility to pregnancy. J Health Psychol. 2016; 06. 12. pii: 1359105316652465. [Epub ahead of print].
crossref
21. Hwang NM. Factors related to the depression of infertile women. Health Soc Welf Rev. 2013; 33(3):161–187.
22. Burton J. Minerals management service 2005 update. Sea Technol. 2005; 46(1):28–29.
23. Kim JH, Shin HS. A structural model for quality of life of infertile women. J Korean Acad Nurs. 2013; 43(3):312–320.
crossref
24. Domar AD, Gordon K. The psychological impact of infertility: Results of a national survey of men and women. Fertil Steril. 2011; 95(4):s17.
crossref
25. Chung CW, Jung HS, Yun SN, Shin JC, Park HJ, Han MY. Factors of physical and psychological symptoms in women after miscarriage. Korean J Women Health Nurs. 2009; 15(4):303–311.
crossref
26. Klenanoff MA, Shiono PH, Carey JC. The effect of physical activity during pregnancy on preterm delivery and birth weigh. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1990; 163:1450–1456.
27. Yang HA. The constitutional decision on the crime of abortion and the "women's voice": Based on the perception of the women's abortion experiences. Hanyang J Law. 2013; 30(1):5–40.
TOOLS
Similar articles