The experience of pregnancy in women with high body mass: a hermeneutical/phenomenological study

Overweight is one of the most common health problems and risk factors for many prenatal illnesses. The proportion of pregnant women with high body mass would be increased by increasing body mass in society. The purpose of this study was to explain the pregnancy experience in women with high body mass index. An interpretive phenomenological approach was used to conduct this study. Participants included ten pregnant women with high body mass index who were interviewed. All interviews were recorded and transcribed after permission from the participants in order to explain the phenomenon under study and the data were analyzed by using the Van Manen method in MAXQDA version-10 software to emerge their themes and their basic patterns. Out of the 857 extracted primary codes, the experience of women with high birth weight was summarized in the main theme of "Pregnancy concurrent with concern". This theme comprised the following subthemes: "sense of risk", "lack of care facilities for mothers with high body mass index", "obesity as a stigma", and "lack of specialized care". This Hermeneutic phenomenology study showed that pregnant women with high body mass are a vulnerable group. Their pregnancy concurrent with more concern requires more care and support. Service providers, in particular midwives, nurses, and doctors, should be aware of their attitudes and behaviors toward this group of clients and avoid any stereotypical and harassing care behaviors.