Exploring anxiety disorders during pregnancy planning: a qualitative study of women’s experiences in Nova Scotia

Abstract

Anxiety disorders are common in North America, especially among women of reproductive age. However, there is very little research examining women’s perspectives of pregnancy planning. The purpose of this modified grounded theory master’s thesis is to understand the factors that shape the pregnancy planning decisions of women with anxiety disorders in Nova Scotia. Qualitative semi-structured interviews (N=8) were conducted, and three themes were deduced. First, undertaking a pregnancy in the presence of an anxiety disorder is complex because of increased personal needs – specifically, choosing between anxiety disorder management and social expectations. Second, physicians may not all provide sufficient information about the impact of anxiety disorders during pregnancy. Third, which was an unexpected observation, women perceived their anxiety disorder as being associated with their fertility. Recommendations emerging from this study are: (1) health providers should discuss with women who have anxiety disorders the challenges associated with undertaking pregnancy; (2) information about pregnancy planning should be more available for women with anxiety disorders as it would help them make informed decisions; (3) women with anxiety disorders should be encouraged to consider midwives as care providers because midwives may provide the best support during pregnancy planning and throughout pregnancy.