Exploring UP journeys among women with psychiatric vulnerability using interpretative phenomenological analysis 155 and seemed proficient in Dutch or English. We excluded women who were diagnosed with intellectual disabilities, as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), or who had a florid psychotic state, as diagnosed by a consulting psychiatrist at the clinic. Partners of pregnant women were invited for the study, irrespective of their mental health status. Eligible women were informed about the research during routine clinic visits between nine and 34 weeks of gestation and were invited by a researcher via email or telephone. The consulting psychiatrist did not participate in the interviews. When pregnant women agreed to participate, patient information files and informed consent files were sent via email. The pregnant woman was asked if there was a partner involved and if this partner wanted to be interviewed too, separately or together. Participants were also invited to bring a support person to the interviews, as the interview topic might be perceived as sensible. Participants and partners were invited for two consecutive interviews—one during pregnancy and one within three to six months postpartum—to capture their experiences with parent–infant bonding. Participants could also bring their newborn to the interview. Participants received reimbursement for their time and travel expenses. Purposeful sampling enabled the inclusion of participants with UPs, a willingness to discuss the topic and varying psychiatric vulnerability. In accordance with the IPA principle of including a maximum of 10-15 participants, we halted data collection for 11 participants29. Data collection The interview guide (see Appendix 7.1) was developed based on qualitative data collected from focus groups with the MIND mental health panel36. Throughout the study, the interview guide was modified to accommodate any new themes that emerged during the interviews. Employing a semi structured interview format allowed participants the flexibility to share information beyond what was specifically asked about, providing an advantage in capturing unanticipated insights37. All interviews were conducted by two researchers: one as an interviewer and one as an observer (rotating roles). The interviews were conducted either via videoconference using Zoom or at OLVG hospital, depending on the participant's preference, and were audio recorded. During the interviews, the researchers made notes and captured nuances such as body language and facial expressions to supplement the audio recordings for a more comprehensive analysis. Participants were invited to read their summaries and comment on the interpretation of their narrative.
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