Phenomenological study of multidimensional challenges and suffering among Iranian women following preterm birth

Preterm birth is a difficult and painful experience for women. Understanding this suffering can help health care providers and families to support women. Therefore, the present study was carried out in order to identify the lived experiences of women about the difficulties of preterm birth. This was a qualitative study with a phenomenological approach. The participants were 16 women with preterm birth hospitalized in Imam Reza Hospital in Kermanshah. The sampling was purposive. Individual and face-to-face interviews were used to collect data. The data were analyzed according to Diekelmann’s seven-step method. Three themes were obtained in the analysis of the interviews. Experience of negative emotions included “psychological shock and anxiety about the infant’s fate”, “the pain of separation”, “helplessness in performing the role of motherhood”, “emotional turmoil: frustration, regret, and self-blame”, “the suffering of stigma and shame” and “loss of cultural rituals and maternal recognition”. Insufferable challenges of caring for a premature infant consisted of “suspended between self-care and premature infant care”, “challenges of breastfeeding and infant care”, “concerned about post-discharge care” and “disruption of family life and shared parental burden”. The theme of “psychological consequences” also included three subthemes: “psychological burnout”, “discouragement from spouse and close relatives” and “loss of motivation to become a mother and have children again”. Preterm birth creates a complex combination of negative emotions for women, leading to negative psychological outcomes for them and their families. Timely implementation of psycho-emotional and instrumental social supports for women will improve their adaptation to the difficult circumstances of preterm birth and reduce psychological outcomes.