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Table 1 Characteristics of the studies included in the metasynthesis

From: Women’s experiences of their pregnancy and postpartum body image: a systematic review and meta-synthesis

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

  1. (primaparous = in their first pregnancy, or if postpartum, have one baby; multiparous = not first pregnancy or have more than one baby; SSI – semi-structured interviews; pp - postpartum; SES – socioeconomic status; NS – not stated). Studies listed in chronological order - numbering of paper in column one corresponds to number in reference list.