The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experience of single middle-aged women who experienced complications in their planned pregnancy. Phenomenology was used as the research design for this study. The sample consisted of 11 Caucasian participants who were single middle-aged women, aged 35 to 48 years, who chose to become pregnant and experienced complications in their planned pregnancy. Each participant told about their pregnancy experience from decision to become pregnant, through their pregnancy, and from the point of birth to the present time so that their pregnancy complications could be placed in the appropriate context. A semi-structured interview was used to elucidate these experiences. Five themes emerged from the findings: (a) motherhood now or never, (b) the known and unknown, (c) importance of support, (d) the stigma of single motherhood, and (e) long term concerns.

Women who are single, middle-aged, and contemplating pregnancy should be counseled about the risk for both fetal and maternal complications. Health care providers can have a significant impact on the patients’ experience, especially if the patient is looking to them for support, if they take more than a casual interest in their care, and treat them as an individual, not as a diagnosis. It is important to remember that single middle-aged women who are experiencing pregnancy complications in their planned pregnancy have traveled a long road to become pregnant and are strong, independent, and resourceful women who are at a point in their life where they need to ask for, and accept help, and need to be reassured they are not compromising their independence, dignity, and integrity.

Key Words: Single Mother • Middle Aged Women • Pregnancy Complications •

Planned Pregnancy • Phenomenological Methodology