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Background: antiphospholipid syndrome is a disorder of the immune system that is characterized by poor obstetric outcome. Women with this disorder may experience devastating problems during pregnancy. Aim: to explore the lived experience of hospitalizedpregnant women having antiphospholipid syndrome with a previous fetal loss. Design: A phenomenological qualitative research design was used with purposive sample of 15 participants. Setting: the high-risk pregnancy department at obstetrics and gynecology hospital which is affiliated to Cairo University Hospitals. Data were collected through semi-structured questionnaire using digital voice recording. Results: uncertainty was the core concept that reflected the experience of the pregnant women under study. This was represented in three major phases: uncertainty before diagnosis with APS, uncertainty after diagnosis, and uncertainty during hospitalization. Seven themes emerged from the data analysis as consequence to uncertainty as follows: living in uncertainty; social burden; psychological suffering; fear of the unknown; stressful hospitalization; threats; and unsettled quality of life. Conclusion: women with antiphospholipid perceived the need to provide them with informational support due to the confused state of mind, threats, lack of knowledge and understanding they expose before and after being diagnosed with APS, and during hospitalization. Recommendation: providing informational support for these women is necessary to meet their needs, improve clinical practice and reduce the negatives consequences of this condition for women during childbearing period. |
