The psychological experience of advanced maternal age raising a second child: a qualitative study

Objective: To explore the psychological changes that may take place in older women with a second child from conception to birth. The study has several aims, including the provision of protection of the overall health level of these women; the maintenance of women's position in the labor market; and the promotion of theimplementation of the "comprehensive two-child" policy. Methods: : Semi-open interviews were conducted on older women pregnant with their second child. These women were recruited from three tertiary hospitals in one province in western China. The interview content was analyzed using the qualitative research method of Japanese scholar Kinoshita Yasuhito's revised version of grounded theory. Results: : Four themes were extracted from the psychological experience of the older women with a second child; these were: Life choice; The mixed feelings of motherhood; The backbone of a family; Second children should be cautious. Conclusion: older women with a second child face physical, psychological, life, and other pressures. To ensure the implementation of the "comprehensive two-child" policy, the Chinese government should speed up the establishment of a fertility support system, including education, medical investment, women’s employment rights protection, and pension burden. Establish and improve relevant policies.