Table 4.
Excerpts about ability to open up to others and prenatal anxiety
| Quote # | Type* | Quotation |
|---|---|---|
| Theme/Source: Opening Up to Conjugal and Natal Family | ||
| 1 | PW | A lot of thoughts fill my mind: what will the other person think? Will she be able to understand? They could completely misinterpret it. There are a lot of issues that you can’t share with your family […] Women are scared of sharing their problems with family, thinking about how they might react. (M18) |
| 2 | HP | Sometimes they think their families are already tired of their pregnancy issues, and if they tell them about these issues, they will think the patient is constantly beset with problems. So, they don’t want to discuss such issues with family, especially not with their mother-in-law or their husband. (P6) |
| 3 | PW | If someone understands you, they may give you some valuable advice, but if they don’t [understand], then they can’t. (M5) |
| 4 | HP | She may feel afraid to talk about her concerns because many of our women’s problems are directly linked to their husbands or mothers-in-law. That is why they are mostly afraid to speak openly [at home]. (P5) |
| 5 | HP | In our society, the older household members like grandmas and other elders think if a woman becomes pregnant, it is a routine matter. If a woman shows that she is pregnant, other members of the family will tell her she is being dramatic, wants to avoid household chores, or just wants to relax. (P5) |
| Theme/Source: Opening Up to Husband | ||
| 6 | PW | Yes, I discuss things with my husband […] I get stressed and don’t know how to deal with it, then he advises me. Sometimes I am afraid to discuss things with my father and father-in-law […] and he guides me. (M15) |
| 7 | PW | I used to stay in my room and share things with my husband. He can calm me down and distract me from the situation. Sometimes if I get angry, my blood pressure gets low. (M12) |
| Theme/Source: Opening Up to Peers | ||
| 8 | PW | Yes, I am friends with a neighbor. Sometimes I share [my problems] with her, and she appreciates that I am sharing with her. (M18) |
| 9 | PW | Some people will say, ‘She has been hurt by her husband,’ so I don’t discuss it with anyone. I have a good image in the eyes of people […] I don’t want to have my image distorted. I don’t want to feel low in the eyes of other people.” (M11) |
| Theme/Source: Opening Up to Healthcare Providers | ||
| 10 | HP | They [the women] don’t share with us because, when we are overburdened with our job sometimes, we may use harsh language. Then they don’t want to discuss with us. (P8) |
*
Participant type: PW= Pregnant Woman; HP = Healthcare Provider