[Pregnancy experiences of women with pregnancy-induced hypertension].

Objectives: The study assesses the experience of pregnancy of women who have pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) compared to women with an uncomplicated course of pregnancy.

Methods: 21 women were retrospectively investigated between 5 and 13 months after giving birth via a semistandardised interview focussing on the personal experience of pregnancy. The interviews were analysed by means of qualitative content analysis. The categories "development and course," "coping with anxiety," "image of one's mother" and "relationship with partner" were determined and described. Finally, we developed data-driven, ideal-type models of pregnancies with pregnancy-induced hypertension versus normal pregnancies by detecting the similarities and contrasts between the groups.

Results: Interviewees with pregnancy-induced hypertension showed an ambivalence with regard to their pregnancy, which was more often than not unplanned and/or unwanted. Conflicts with significant others, especially with their partners, were also reported more often. Emotions tended to be understated.

Discussion: The results can be employed in the operationalisation of future projects in a hitherto unclear research field. They should also be considered in the care of patients with pregnancy-induced hypertension.