The paradox of awareness of death in parenthood transition—A qualitative study

Figures & data

Figure 1. The two-stage process of data generation (with permission from Prinds et al., 2021).

Table 1. The process of analysis.

Phase	Description
1.	The transcriptions from the focus group interviews and CP’s fieldnotes were read, and video recordings from the theater workshop watched by the first author to get an overall impression of the whole dataset.
2.	Meaning-bearing units were identified from the dataset by going through it again, focusing on ensuring a continuous openness of mind. The meaning-bearing units were structured in categories and codes.
3.	The third phase consisted of an operationalization of the categories from Phase 2. Questions addressed in this phase were: Are there multiple themes within categories, so they should be divided? Are there overlapping themes between categories, so they should be merged? Is there congruency between a category and its meaning-bearing unit?
4.	The final phase of analysis was the recontextualization of themes in relation to each other and to the aim of the study. This phase attempted to move from specific statements to a more general understanding through hermeneutical circular integration of the results from step 1-3 with existing literature, the social and cultural context of birthing culture in Denmark, and existential philosophical and psychological theory.

Table 2. Overarching themes, meaning-bearing units, and subthemes.

Awareness of my own Finitude	The significance of our lives	The importance of their survival
	Aloneness of the Responsibility	Responsible beyond our lifespan
		The world we leave them in
Fragility of our loved ones	The Fragile Pregnant Body
	A birth of worry	Growing love and fear
		Frightening What-If’s
	The violence of birth

Prinds, C., Timmerman, C., Hvidtjørn, D., Ammentorp, J., Hvidt, N. C., Larsen, H., & Toudal Viftrup, D. (2021). Existential aspects in the transition to parenthood based on interviews and a theatre workshop. Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare: Official Journal of the Swedish Association of Midwives, 28, 100612. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.srhc.2021.100612

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Data availability statement

The data supporting the findings of this study are available from Prinds, but restrictions apply to the availability of these data, which were used under license for the current study and are not publicly available. Data are, however, available from the authors upon reasonable request and with permission of Prinds.