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Self-management strategies of pregnant nurses and midwives: a qualitative study
1Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Kita 12,Nishi 5, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan.
Background:
The high risk of perinatal complications among pregnant nurses and midwives is a global public health concern. Appropriate self-management behaviours during pregnancy can prevent risk; however, such behaviours are difficult for pregnant nurses and midwives because of their specialised demanding work and psychosocial factors.
Aim:
To explore practical self-management strategies perceived by pregnant nurses and midwives as effective for protecting their health.
Methods:
A qualitative descriptive design was adopted. Twenty-one women who had worked as nurses or midwives in a hospital during pregnancy and were between 28 weeks pregnant and less than one year postpartum were recruited. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted between January and June 2021. The data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.
Findings:
The analysis identified three themes: (1) physiological regulation, (2) work reconfiguration, and (3) cultivating fetus-centred belief. The participants described specific measures for physiological regulation, including building a protective baseline and anticipating, monitoring, and adjusting symptoms. Work reconfiguration included strategic work adjustment, creative work practices, mobilising available resources, and redefining the meaning of workplace. Cultivating fetus-centred belief encompassed centring their fetus as a criterion, strengthening maternal resolve, receiving bodily signs as fetal messages, reinterpreting professional responsibility, and envisioning one's life plan.
Conclusion:
Pregnant nurses' and midwives' self-management extended beyond health behaviours and involved cyclical and dynamic reorganisation of their bodies, work, and values to enable the continuation of work while protecting maternal and fetal health. These findings may contribute to the development of educational support and workplace policies to promote safe employment during pregnancy.
Statement Of Significance:
Problem or Issue: Pregnant nurses and midwives are at high risk of perinatal complications.
What Is Already Known:
Self-management behaviours are essential for preventing perinatal complications, yet pregnant nurses and midwives struggle with their implementation.
What This Paper Adds:
This qualitative study addresses practical and replicable self-management strategies perceived by pregnant nurses and midwives as effective for protecting their health. It provided evidence and insights for the development of a health maintenance system for pregnant nurses and midwives.
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