Pregnant women with pre-existing diabetes: family support in managing the pregnancy process.

In this paper, we report on findings from a Diabetes UK funded qualitative research project concerned to explore daughter/mother relationships during pregnancy and the transition to motherhood of women with pre-existing diabetes. In-depth qualitative interviews took place with 12 pregnant women with pre-existing diabetes and four of their mothers, three (male) partners and one father. The study was exploratory in nature and aimed to consider what support pregnant women felt they needed and what support they received from their mothers and other family members to discover policy and practice needs and identify further research concerns. Here, we focus on one theme from the data: management of the pregnancy process from planning for pregnancy and through pregnancy with specific reference to relationships with family members. Respondents reflect on the relationship between diabetes and pregnancy planning, on managing pregnancy and on their relationships with healthcare professionals. The data suggest overwhelmingly that pre-existing diabetes is a significant aspect of pregnancy planning and pregnancy for women and that managing the pregnancy process is a more positive experience if they have the support of family members.