title: First childbirth experience of international marriage migrant women in South Korea.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Since the mid-1990s, a large number of foreign women have migrated from developing countries to South Korea by means of international marriages. These nulliparous foreign women may experience more difficulties in pregnancy and childbirth than native Koreans.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to describe the meaning of the first childbirth experiences of international marriage migrant women marrying Korean men in South Korea.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a descriptive phenomenological study that included 10 participants using the purposive and snowball sampling in one multicultural support center in Seoul, South Korea. Colaizzi's data analysis method was used to inductively determine themes and formulate meanings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The meanings of first childbirth were categorized into four themes-'coming to a crisis,' 'depending on others,' 'searching for solutions,' and 'strengthening family unity.' Inadequate antenatal care is associated with obstacles such as language barriers, social isolation, lack of knowledge, different midwifery practice and dependent lifestyle. Meanwhile, their children were a source of energy for the women to fulfill their emotional needs and improve family relationships.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Childbirth is a life-changing event for these women, in which they face challenges as well as opportunities to develop new coping skills and a new role identity in their family. It is important for healthcare providers and policy makers to identify obstacles and unmet needs to improve maternity care in light of the distinctive challenges of immigrant living in multicultural families.
authors.affiliation: Seoul Women's College of Nursing, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Min Sun
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Minna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Division of Nursing, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: joyhippo@hanyang.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Jung A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008393:Marriage; D008880:Midwifery / Q000379:methods; D036801:Parturition / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D037841:Pregnant People / Q000523:psychology*; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000523:psychology*; D056910:Republic of Korea; D014171:Transients and Migrants / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: International marriage migrants; Parturition; Pregnant women; Qualitative research