|
| | n | % |
|
| Life perceptions and knowledge prior to diagnosis of preeclampsia | | |
| No knowledge of PE | 32 | 77.4% |
| Felt in control of own destiny | 29 | 42.6% |
| Felt unwell | 35 | 51.5% |
| Felt that something was not quite right | 42 | 61.8% |
|
| Following diagnosis with PE | | |
| Thought it could not happen to her | 41 | 60.3% |
| Did not believe the doctor or midwife | 13 | 19.1% |
| Thought it was not serious or life threatening | 34 | 50.0% |
| Was frightened | 49 | 72.1% |
| Felt a sense of letting self down by becoming sick with PE | 43 | 63.2% |
|
| As the PE continued or became more severe | | |
| Felt had lost control of own destiny | 56 | 82.4% |
| Felt no longer “owned” the things that shaped own life | 57 | 83.8% |
| Did not believe the doctors/midwives about being unwell | 16 | 23.5% |
| Felt that doctors/midwives did not believe me that I was unwell | 13 | 19.1% |
| Felt that no-one around had been through same experiences | 50 | 73.5% |
|
| How the PE affected early experiences with the baby/babies | | |
| It was a shock to know might give birth early | 53 | 77.9% |
| Was frightened of how baby would manage if born early | 52 | 76.5% |
| Was more worried about the baby than about self | 55 | 84.6% |
| Felt that baby might die | 41 | 60.3% |
|
| Feelings that ability to bond with baby were limited, because | | |
| As a mother, was too sick | 48 | 70.6% |
| Baby was too sick | 39 | 57.4% |
| Baby and mother cared for in different parts of hospital | 47 | 69.1% |
| Difficult to establish breastfeeding | 35 | 51.5% |
|
| In the weeks, months, or years since the PE experience | | |
| Had professional counseling to talk about the experience | 25 | 36.8% |
| Felt the need to obtain more information about PE | 66 | 97.1% |
| Found it was easy to obtain the information about PE | 35 | 51.5% |
| Have fully recovered from the PE | 50 | 73.5% |
| Have felt needed extra healthcare compared with women whose pregnancies were normal | 55 | 82.1% |
| Found friends and/or family were very supportive and helpful | 58 | 85.3% |
| Found talking or writing about PE experience was helpful | 53 | 77.9% |
| Have had very little confidence in mothering ability | 16 | 23.5% |
| Have had a strong sense of self-worth | 44 | 64.7% |
| Believe have been a very successful mother | 51 | 75.0% |
| Consider that baby has needed extra healthcare | 26 | 38.2% |
| Have become aware that there may be a genetic link for PE, for example, own mother had PE | 50 | 73.5% |
| Have been concerned about risk of PE if daughter/sister is pregnant | 52 | 76.5% |
|
| How women considered their experience of PE affected later pregnancies | | |
| Felt increased anxiety towards future pregnancies | 64 | 94.1% |
| PE experience influenced interval to next pregnancy | 37 | 54.4% |
| Enjoyment of the pregnancy | 42 | 61.8% |
| Choice of primary caregiver (e.g., Midwife, General Practitioner, Specialist Obstetrician, Hospital Clinic) | 49 | 72.1% |
| Choice of hospital | 40 | 70.6% |
| Level of medical care during pregnancy | 48 | 70.6% |
| How baby was born (e.g., by Cesarean Section) | 33 | 48.5% |
|
