Author(s) | Focus | Sampling; Context | Sample size | Ethnicity; SES | Age | Marital status | Parity | Data collection; Data analysis | Theoretical framework | Quality rating |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nash (2012) Australia [22] | Examine early pregnancy embodiment and BI | Self-selection in response to advert; City | N = 38 | White; Middle class | 21-40 | NS | NS | SSI at 10 week intervals from 10/20 weeks gestation to post birth; Situational analysis | Feminism | B |
Harper & Rail (2011) Canada [35] | Young women’s discursive construction of the pregnant body in the context of obesity | Snowball sampling, prenatal classes; City | N = 15 | NS; NS | 18-28 | NS | n = 13 primi- & n = 2 multiparas | SSI during pregnancy; Thematic and discourse analysis | Feminist post-structuralism | B |
Ogle et al. (2011) US [37] | The meaning and implications of the pp body for married couples | Snowball sampling; Two towns, clinic and community | N = 14 couples | 24 Caucasian, 1 Asian, 2 Hispanic; Middle class | 22-39 | Married | N = 14 primiparas | Separate SSI 28 – 36 weeks gestation, and 2-6 weeks pp; Hermaneutic approach | Interactionist/dramaturgical | B |
Carter (2010) US [24] | Concept of control body/self in pregnancy and childbirth | Theoretical and snowball sampling; Birth centres | N = 18 | 3 Hispanic, 1 African American, 10 White; n = 13 upper/middle, n = 5 lower middle/ working class | NS | NS | n = 15 primi- (n = 1 with adopted child) and n = 3 multiparas | SSI at 6-18 months pp; Narrative analysis | Social constructionism | B |
Clark et al. (2009) Australia [25] | Women’s experience of the body in pregnancy and pp | Social network snowball sampling; Two cities | N = 20 | n = 19 Australian, n = 1 British; NS | 21–42 | n = 16 married, n = 4 cohabiting; | n = 18 primi- & n = 2 multiparas; n = 10 pregnant, n = 10 pp | SSI – gp1 = 30–38 weeks gestation; gp2 = 5-12 weeks; Phenomenology, thematic content analysis | Phenomenology | A |
Chang et al. (2006) Taiwan [26] | Body image of Taiwanese women in the third trimester | Purposeful sampling; Prenatal examinations | N = 18 | Taiwanese; NS | 21-45 | n = 17 married, n = 1 engaged | n = 15 primiparas & n = 3 multiparas | SSI in 3rd trimester; Phenomenology | Phenomenology | A |
Johnson et al. (2004) UK [27] | The meaning of body change for first time mothers to be | Convenience sampling; Email to colleagues | N = 6 | 1 British Asian, 5 White; All working for a university | 26-34 | Married | N = 6 primiparas | SSI at 33-39 weeks gestation; Phenomenology & Foucaldian discourse analysis | Phenomenology & Foucaldian discourse analysis | B |
Seibold (2004) Australia [28] | The experiences of young pregnant women, maternal embodiment and identity construction | Convenience sample; prenatal classes, city hospital | N = 5 | NS; NS | 17-23 | n = 4 single, n = 1 unmarried partner | Parity not stated; n = 5 pregnancies unplanned | SSI at 24-26 weeks gestation, 6-8 weeks and 6 months pp (telephone); diaries in 3rd trimester; Organising themes | Feminism | B |
Earle (2003) UK [29] | Physical appearance concerns during pregnancy | NS; 12 antenatal clinics | N = 19 | n = 1 Asian, n = 18 White; Range | 16-30 | NS | N = 19 primiparas | Unstructured interviews at 6–14, 34–39 weeks gestation; Grounded theory | NS | B |
Upton & Han (2003) US [23] | The perceived boundary between self and body after pregnancy | Snowball sampling; Urban community | N = 60 couples | NS; Middle class | 26-34 | Married | NS | n = 52 Ethnographic interview, n = 8 interview & observation; Ethnography | Phenomenology | B |
Bailey (2001) UK [38] | Gender in pregnancy and postpartum | Snowball sampling; Antenatal classes | N = 30 | White; Middle class | 25-38 | NS | N = 30 primiparas | SSI at 3rd trimester and 3-6 months pp; Content analysis | Feminism | B |
Bondas & Eriksson (2001) Finland [30] | The lived experiences of pregnancy | Purposeful sampling; NS | N = 40 | NS; NS | NS | NS | N = 40 primi- & multiparas | SSI at 36th week gestation, 3 weeks, 3 months and 2 years pp; Phenomenology | Phenomenology | A |
Schmied & Lupton (2001) UK [31] | How body image gives meaning to the embodiment of pregnancy | Convenience sampling; city hospital | N = 25 couples | 1 Brazilian, 1 German, 23 British; n = 15 white collar occupations, n = 12 educated to degree level | 23-35 | Cohabiting | N = 25 primiparas; n = 8 unplanned, n = 17 planned | SSI in pregnancy, 2-10 days, 4-8 weeks, 12-14 weeks, and 5-6 months pp; Identifying themes and patterns | Post-structuralism | B |
Devine et al. (2000) US [32] | How women experience weight change in pregnancy and pp | Flyers in nutrition clinics; City | N = 36 | n = 1 Asian, n = 35 American; n = 24 employed, n = 8 university & n = 2 high school students | 18-40 | n = 33 married, n = 3 NS | n = 27 primiparas & n = 9 multiparas | SSI mid-pregnancy, 6 weeks, 6 (telephone) & 12 months pp; Constant comparative method | Interpretivist | A |
Bailey (1999) UK [33] | Identity in the transition to motherhood | Snowball sampling; Antenatal classes | N = 30 | White; Middle class | 25-38 | n = 29 cohabiting, n = 1 single | N = 30 primiparas; n = 6 unplanned, n = 24 planned | SSI at 3rd trimester; Discourse analysis | NS | B |
Fox & Yamaguchi (1997) UK [34] | BI changes experienced by normal and overweight women in pregnancy | Convenience sampling; Four hospitals | N = 76 (42 - BMI 20–24, 34 - BMI 25–39) | 57 White, 16 Black, 3 Indian Asian; n = 23 professional, n = 23 skilled, n = 12 partially/ unskilled, n = 18 unemployed | 18-27 | NS | N = 76 primiparas | Mixed methods questionnaires completed at least 30 weeks gestation; Identification of themes | NS | B |
Wiles (1994) UK [36] | The impact of pregnancy on women’s feelings about weight | Identification by midwives, postal; Two hospitals | N = 37 weighing >90 kg by 30th week | White; NS | 21-30 | n = 30 cohabiting, n = 6 living with parents, n = 1 single | NS | SSI and free text questionnaire at 30-40 weeks gestation; NS | Feminism | C |