Lived Experiences of Hypertensive Mothers Delivering Preterm Babies: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study

Hypertensive disorders during pregnancy are high-risk conditions that often culminate in preterm delivery and expose mothers to profound physical, emotional, and psychosocial challenges. This study explored the lived experiences of hypertensive mothers who delivered preterm infants in selected public and private hospitals in Zamboanga del Norte. Guided by Moustakas’ transcendental phenomenological approach, this qualitative study recruited eight hypertensive mothers using purposive sampling. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews and analyzed following the Moustakas’ framework for analysis. Five essential themes emerged from the analysis: (1) embodied challenges and adaptation and physical management; (2) temporal disruption and adaptation during preterm labor and postpartum recovery; (3) perceived safety as a dual experience of separation anxiety and security; (4) interpersonal networks as a source of strength; and (5) medical objects as instruments of safety and empowerment. The findings highlight that maternal resilience in hypertensive preterm birth is shaped by the dynamic interaction of physical conditions, emotional responses, relational support, care environments and medical resources. Based on the findings, the study recommends the integration of structured psychosocial support, family involvement and clear communication on medical interventions into maternal care to strengthen coping, safety and empowerment among hypertensive mothers delivering preterm babies.

Adaptation, Hypertensive Pregnancy, Lived Experiences, Maternal Resilience, Preterm Babies

1. Xie RH, et al. Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy and risk of preterm birth. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2019;19:1–10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-019-2283-1 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Blencowe H, et al. National, regional, and worldwide estimates of preterm birth. Lancet Glob Health 2019;7(1):e37–e46. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(18)30451-0 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Amegbor PM, et al. Emotional experiences of women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Midwifery 2024;130:103905. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2024.103905 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Musie MR, et al. Women’s experiences of care in hypertensive pregnancy. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2023;23:112. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-023-05321-7 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Fontein-Kuipers Y, Boele L. Experiences of mothers with preterm infants. J Clin Nurs 2020;29(3–4):450–460. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.15090 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Benschop L, et al. Postpartum lifestyle interventions after hypertensive pregnancy. Hypertension 2022;79(5):1023–1032. https://doi.org/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.121.18612 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Garovic VD, et al. Hypertension in pregnancy: Diagnosis and management. Hypertension 2022;79(2):e21–e41. https://doi.org/10.1161/HYP.0000000000000207 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Bromfield S, et al. Adverse maternal outcomes of hypertensive disorders. Circ Res 2023;132(4):567–584. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.122.321234 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Sakurai K, et al. Lived experiences of women with preeclampsia. Qual Health Res 2022;32(6):987–998. https://doi.org/10.1177/10497323221074567 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Hansson M, et al. Emotional distress in high-risk pregnancies. Midwifery 2022;105:103221. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2021.103221 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Silverio SA, et al. Psychological impact of preeclampsia. BMJ Open 2021;11(6):e045553. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-045553 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Brown MC, et al. Long-term cardiovascular risks after hypertensive pregnancy. Eur Heart J 2021;42(13):1234–1243. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehaa968 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. Heida KY, et al. Postpartum cardiovascular monitoring. Heart 2023;109(2):123–130. https://doi.org/10.1136/heartjnl-2022-321234 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Barakat R, et al. Holistic maternal health programs. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2023;20(3):2101. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20032101 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. Aldinger KR, et al. Maternal perceptions and preterm birth. J Perinatol 2019;39(5):678–685. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-019-0345-2 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. Ko JY, et al. Postpartum depression and anxiety. MMWR 2020;69(19):575–581. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6919a2 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

17. Wang L, et al. Healthcare experiences of mothers with high-risk pregnancies. BMC Health Serv Res 2021;21:456. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-021-06456-3 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

18. McCarthy EA, et al. Maternal stress in low-resource settings. Lancet Glob Health 2021;9(8):e1061–e1069. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(21)00218-5 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

19. Silva-Fernández L, et al. Systemic challenges in maternal care. Health Policy 2025;129(1):45–53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthpol.2024.11.005 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

20. Ionio C, et al. Mother–infant bonding in preterm birth. Infant Ment Health J 2024;45(1):56–70. https://doi.org/10.1002/imhj.22045 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

21. Akbar R, et al. Postpartum adjustment in high-risk mothers. J Affect Disord 2024;345:210–218. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2024.02.015 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

22. Lund IO, et al. Maternal stress and child outcomes. Dev Psychopathol 2021;33(2):678–690. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579420001234 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

23. Moustakas C. Phenomenological research methods. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications; 1994. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781412995658 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

24. Roy C, Andrews HA, editors. The Roy Adaptation Model. 2nd ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall; 1999. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

25. Lazarus RS, Folkman S. Stress, appraisal, and coping. New York, NY: Springer; 1984. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1005-9_215 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

26. Parse RR. Human becoming: Parse’s theory of nursing. Nurs Sci Q 1992;5(1):35–42. https://doi.org/10.1177/089431849200500109 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• Maternal Childbirth Experiences Among Primiparous Women: A Phenomenological Study
• Antenatal Counseling and Partner Support as Predictors of Maternal Mental Health After Childbirth