Chapter 7 154 Methods Research design overview A prospective qualitative research methodology was adopted to gain a deep understanding of women’s lived experiences over time. We conducted semi structured interviews during pregnancy and after delivery that used a narrative approach. The analysis was grounded in the phenomenological tradition, and we adhered to the principles of interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA)28,29. The IPA fits the aims of the current study, as it sets priority to the individual experience, has a mission in providing a detailed and nuanced analysis of people’s experiences, is appropriate for studying life event28,30 and focuses on a specific context31. Additionally, IPA appears suitable for amplifying the concerns of underrepresented groups, such as women with psychiatric vulnerability whose experiences are currently understudied32. The Qualitative Design Reporting Standards of the American Psychological Association were followed to ensure transparent reporting33. Researcher description The position of the researchers holds specific relevance in any study conducting IPA, as it adheres to the double hermeneutic position: the researchers attribute meaning to how the participants attribute meaning to their own experience34. Credibility was enhanced through investigator triangulation35 involving multiple researchers with diverse backgrounds. NS is a medical doctor with experience in the field of obstetrics and perinatal psychiatry; HS is a midwife with special knowledge of and interest in international public health; ES is a medical doctor with experience in psychiatry and obstetric care for marginalized groups of pregnant women; ME is a postdoc researcher who has lived experience in perinatal psychiatry and is an employee of organization MIND (the Dutch mental health patient and family umbrella organization); NJ is a postdoc researcher with methodological expertise; MP is a senior researcher and perinatologist; OH is a senior researcher, psychiatrist with expertise in hospital psychiatry and has lived experience with UPs and psychiatric vulnerability; and BB is a senior researcher and psychiatrist with perinatal expertise. Participant selection and recruitment Recruitment took place between March 2022 and February 2023 among all patients who visited the perinatal outpatient clinic of OLVG because of psychiatric vulnerability. We included pregnant women who perceived their pregnancies as unintended, were willing to discuss their pregnancy journeys, were aged 18 or older
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