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The lived experience of women who undergo prenatal diagnostic testing due to elevated maternal serum
R R Alteneder1, C Kenner, D Greene
1Medical College of Ohio, School of Nursing, Toledo 43614-5803, USA. Ralteneder@mco.edu
Purpose:
To explore the lived experiences of a sample of 16 pregnant women who obtained an elevated maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein screening and had further prenatal diagnostic procedures to determine fetal status.
Design:
Phenomenology
Methods:
Sixteen pregnant women were interviewed on two occasions, immediately after contact with a maternal-fetal medicine specialist, and again during the immediate postpartum period. Interviews were conducted until analysis indicated that there was emergence of common themes. A nine-step method was used in the analysis procedure.
Results:
The exhaustive description of the experience revealed four chronological reaction periods during the experience.
Clinical Implications:
Interactions clearly demonstrated the need for nursing interventions throughout the experience of prenatal diagnostic testing.