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The Preterm Labor Experience

Author

Listed:
  • Marcia A. Coster-Schulz

    (William S. Hall Psychiatric Institute, South Carolina, Department of Mental Health)

  • Marlene C. Mackey

    (College of Nursing, University of South Carolina)

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to identify how women described, interpreted, and managed their preterm labor experience. Ten married, middle-class women participated in an in-depth, tape-recorded interview in the hospital after preterm labor was stabilized; periodically over the telephone after discharge from the hospital; and in the hospital, home, or via telephone after birth, for a total of 31 interviews. Using qualitative data analysis techniques, the findings were conceptualized as five recursive stages: becoming aware that something was wrong and feeling unbalanced, making sense of the experience as they sought to understand why preterm labor occurred, trying different strategies to re-create a balance in their lives, addressing other life stressors that threatened restoring balance, and emerging from the preterm labor experience with added growth. An increased understanding of the preterm labor experience from the woman's perspective can be helpful to health care professionals and others who support women during pregnancy.

Suggested Citation

  • Marcia A. Coster-Schulz & Marlene C. Mackey, 1998. "The Preterm Labor Experience," Clinical Nursing Research, , vol. 7(4), pages 335-359, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:clnure:v:7:y:1998:i:4:p:335-359
    DOI: 10.1177/105477389800700402
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Oakley, Ann, 1985. "Social support in pregnancy: The 'soft' way to increase birthweight?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 21(11), pages 1259-1268, January.
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