Body image in pregnancy : a qualitative study

Abstract

This study aimed to explore pregnant women’s views of self during their first pregnancy. Its objectives were threefold, which included; exploring women’s feelings and thoughts about their bodies during pregnancy, understanding if and how lifestyle adjustments influence pregnant women’s body image, as well as, recognising the influence made by society and media on women’s perception of self. A qualitative approach was used to investigate eight Maltese, primiparous women, who were recruited by purposive sampling through intermediaries, from the obstetric wards at the general state hospital. Informed consent was gained from all participants and a 100% response rate was produced. A self-designed, semi-structured interview schedule was utilised to generate the data via online interviews. Audio-recording was carried out with participants’ consent and participants’ names were pseudonymised for confidentiality purposes. Data was transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed. Findings concluded that whilst pregnancy was a generally positive experience, various negative factors affected pregnant women’s perception of themselves and their overall well-being. Women’s perceived level of attractiveness varied, however, all were accepting of the inevitable process of a changing body once pregnant. A desire to gain control over their appearance was exhibited amongst participating women, especially during the third trimester. Pregnancy’s lifestyle adjustments were difficult for some to uphold, challenging women’s body image. Moreover, the Maltese society did play a toll on some women’s self-perception, encouraging social comparison. When it came to media, participants were aware of the false depictions of pregnant women and their bodies. However, some could not help but question their pregnant appearance. Ultimately, despite the hardships met in terms of body image, participants were generally happy during their first pregnancy and were motivated to meet their baby. This small-scale study put forward several recommendations, which included giving due importance to discussing body image during pregnancy and prioritising the information given to mothers about support services available to them. Additionally, it was recommended to educate women and midwives on pregnancy’s impact on women’s views of self. Lastly, the student researcher recommended further research on the topic so that a more comprehensive understanding of issues surrounding body image in pregnancy are made available to professionals and women alike.