Methods: This study used a longitudinal research design based on purposive sampling. We recruited 98 pregnant women from the prenatal wards of hospitals. The follow-up measurements began during the first 12 weeks of the first trimester and were subsequently measured every month until childbirth. Excluded were women at high risk for obstetric or medical complications, such as those with insulin-dependent diabetes, gestational diabetes and/or hypertension, and those who were experiencing a multiple-gestation pregnancy. The study’s variables included socio-demographic characteristics, prenatal characteristics, and pregnancy-related symptom disturbance symptoms. On our 24-item pregnancy-related symptom disturbance scale, 18 symptoms were physical while 6 were psychological. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS for Windows, Version 20.0, and Hierarchical Linear Modeling (HLM).
Results: The most noticeable changes were found in the group that demonstrated a “Decrease then Increase” trend, with total symptom distress scores of 55.79%, physical changes scores of 47.37%, and psychological changes scores of 64.21%. The point of transition for the increasing symptom distress scores was at 22-23 weeks. A “Continued Increase” in distress symptom scores was demonstrated by a second group, with total symptom distress scores of 28.42% and physical changes scores of 36.84%. An “Increase then Decrease” trend was exhibited by a third group, whose psychological symptom distress scores were somewhat different.
Conclusion: The pregnant women in the “Decrease then Increase” group showed the most noticeable changes in symptom distress scores. The average point of transition came during the 22nd-23rd weeks of pregnancy. We believe that this study could be useful for healthcare providers in their ongoing efforts to improve prenatal care.