It Bothers Me to Remember My Pregnancy: Lived Experiences of Female Faculty Members at Type 3 University in Iran on Pregnancy and Childbirth: A Phenomenological Study

Background: During pregnancy, women encounter various physical and mental challenges, with severity influenced by their physical condition, underlying health issues, socio-economic status, and available support systems. Objectives: This study aims to explore the lived experiences of faculty members during pregnancy. Methods: This interpretative phenomenological study was conducted using Max van Manen's phenomenological research methods. Data were collected through semi-structured, in-depth, face-to-face interviews. A total of 7 participants were selected through purposive sampling. The interviews began with the question, "How did you experience your pregnancy?" To ensure rich data, maximum diversity sampling was employed. Data collection and analysis occurred concurrently. This research was conducted in 2023 at Dezful University of Medical Sciences, focusing on medical faculty members. Results: The findings revealed that the lived experiences of female faculty members in medical sciences universities in Iran during motherhood encompassed seven themes: Sick and tired body, mental instability, modified role, support failure, wrong policies, spiritual strictness, and resistance against traditionalism. Conclusions: The research indicates that the lack of family-friendly programs results in numerous challenges for female faculty members, including the financial burden of having children, conflicts between motherhood and professional responsibilities, ineffective demographic policies, pressures from traditional societal norms, and inadequate support systems.