Maintaining Equilibrium: a Grounded Theory Study of the Processes Involved when Women Make Informed Choices During Pregnancy

Objective: To map the processes involved when women make informed choices during pregnancy.

Design: A grounded theory approach was used. Data were collected by means of focused interviews and observation.

Setting: Naturalistic, in antenatal clinics and participants' homes.

Participants: Pregnant women receiving care in a variety of maternity settings in England.

Key Findings: The core category was named Maintaining Equilibrium, whereby the woman attempted to make choices that would preserve the balance of her and her family's life. Substantive categories were Regulating, Contextualising and Actioning.

Implications For Practice: The core and substantive categories are discussed in relation to midwifery practice, with particular reference to how women judged the trustworthiness of the information and its source, and the strategies they used to operationalise their choices. The need is stressed for midwives to be sensitive and flexible regarding meeting the information needs of women, in order that women may reach their own decisions about how best to maintain their equilibrium.