Experiences of pregnant women with hypertensive disorders admitted to critical care units and mother-child separation in three institutions in Ecuador, during the Covid-19 pandemic (2020)

Abstract

Objectives: Hospitalization in critical care areas has compromised the well-being of the mother-child bond during childbirth and the postpartum period. Therefore, it is necessary to describe the experiences of pregnant women with hypertensive disorders admitted to the intensive care unit. Material and methods: A qualitative research study with a phenomenological design, involving a sample of ten participants with a history of hypertensive disorders during pregnancy, admitted to critical care. Using snowball sampling and data saturation, information was gathered through semi-structured interviews following informed consent. Data were analyzed with open coding a posteriori using Colaizzi’s method and complemented by MAXQDA 2022 software. Results: Six categories emerged: 1) consequences of hypertensive disorders in pregnant women in intensive care units; 2) positive aspects during perinatal care; 3) emotions and suffering due to the loss of the newborn; 4) impact of critical conditions on the mother-newborn relationship; 5) lack of resources for timely therapeutic interventions in perinatal care, and 6) lack of assertive communication by healthcare personnel. Conclusions: Maternal morbidity and mortality caused by hypertensive disorders require high-complexity care in specialized institutions to reduce life-threatening risks, leading to disrupted early bonding and separation of the mother-child dyad, as well as negative feelings in the mothers. This situation results in a painful experience for the family. Therefore, healthcare professionals must develop strategies to ensure the preservation of the emotional bond, which can be compromised in critical care areas.