Adolescents' description and management of pregnancy and preterm labor.

OBJECTIVE

To describe adolescents' experiences with pregnancy and preterm labor.

DESIGN

Naturalistic inquiry, a qualitative study using intensive, open-ended, tape-recorded interviews and constant comparative data analysis.

SETTING

Antepartum units of two hospitals in the southeastern section of the United States.

PARTICIPANTS

Eight African American and five white adolescents, ages 14-19 years, hospitalized for preterm labor.

RESULTS

The findings are broadly conceptualized as (a) describing pregnancy and preterm labor and (b) managing pregnancy and preterm labor. "Responding to Pregnancy" consisted of descriptions of the adolescents' reactions to pregnancy (initial concern and dislike) and pathophysiologic responses that put the adolescents at risk for preterm labor. "Responding to Preterm Labor" included the various ways that adolescents became aware of preterm labor and their various understandings of the causes and consequences of preterm labor. Vignettes illustrate how adolescents managed pregnancy and preterm labor with ease or with difficulty. Adolescents who received support from others, especially their mothers, tended to deliver near or at full-term.

CONCLUSIONS

Nurses can use the findings from this study as a guide for assessing and monitoring adolescents throughout pregnancy. Advanced practice nurses may have the educational background and philosophy of care to provide the most appropriate prenatal care to pregnant adolescents. Research is needed to further explore stressful experiences and support in adolescents' lives and how these are related to preterm labor and birth.