MATERNAL HEALTH PROMOTION BASED ON THE BIRTH EXPERIENCE OF WOMEN WITH HEART DISEASE

The aim of this study was to understand the meanings of the birth process based on the experiences of high-risk pregnancies of women with heart disease. A qualitative study with a phenomenological approach, with data collection happening between July and December 2014, was developed at a high-risk pregnancy hospital in the Southeastern region of Brazil. Seventeen participants were interviewed and the expressed meanings were analyzed with the theoretical-methodological approach of Martin Heidegger. Women mentioned fearing death during birth; and worries about their infants’ survival, asking physicians to prioritize their lives. The display of concerns facing the expressed fears stood out, involving vulnerabilities which patients with heart disease experience when pregnant. That is because, in addition to possible complications stemming from heart disease, there are subjective issues that are ignored during the healthcare process, especially related to lack of communication and one-sided decision making regarding the type, time and route of delivery.