Women's Experience on Body Change during Pregnancy in Taiwan

Purpose: This qualitative study was to explore the women's experience of perception, feeling and thought on body change during early and middle pregnancy. Methods: The twenty two participants were pregnant women who were receiving prenatal examinations at clinics at a medical center in Taipei, Taiwan. In-depth interviews were conducted face-to-face, open-ended in a conversational style when the women were between the 8th and 28th weeks of pregnancy. Interviews were analyzed using a phenomenological approach. Results:Five major themes are central to women's experience on their bodies during early and middle pregnancy. Five themes include: 1.response to body size, shape and weight; 2.response to striae gravidarum; 3.overall appearance and self-image; 4.responses of partner or others; 5.return of the feminine self. Conclusion: Conflict between “loss of woman's body” and “gain of mother's role” is apparent when examining women's experience of pregnancy. Awareness of the complex and conflict reactions of pregnant women to their bodies may help health professionals be more open to hearing and respecting what pregnant women have to say, thus providing better social support and care for women during pregnancy.