BACKGROUND:
Vulnerability factors such as low income, limited education and young age are associated with low socioeconomic status, which predicts health disparities. Low-status groups often experience poorer health compared to higher-status counterparts. While research has connected this to higher risk of reduced perinatal health, its specificity in pregnant women remain underexplored.

OBJECTIVES:
We aim to describe the essences of the experiences of pregnancy when facing economic disadvantage, a main constituent of low socioeconomic status.

METHODS:
The study was conducted through ten semi structured in depth- interviews taking place October to December 2024 (duration of 32-52 minutes). The narratives were analyzed by Giorgi’s descriptive phenomenological method throughout January to June 2025.

RESULTS:
Pregnancy amidst economic hardship emerged as a constant balancing act, with financial insecurity permeating all aspects of life. The general meaning structure was divided into four interrelated constituents: Balancing complex life histories and lived vulnerabilities; a spectrum of lived vulnerabilities manifested in clusters collectively imposed a cumulative burden. Balancing financial hardship and strained situations; economic hardship emerged prominently to varying extents and constricted already tight situations. Balancing responsibility, expectations and needs; to juggle complexities while balancing a strong appearance with need for support. Balancing relationship and trust in health care interactions; encounters with midwives were experienced either as stress buffers, or as stressors.

CONCLUSIONS:
The women described that empathetic listening, curiosity about their unique experiences and embracing the whole person with the strength to also handle the sometimes-unbearable built trust. Tailoring professional expertise to the individual woman felt affirming, and attuning to each individual's needs enabled the women to open for broader understanding and consideration of alternatives.

KEY MESSAGE:
Description of the essences of the phenomenon of being pregnant when facing economic disadvantage can increase understanding and contribute to a more targeted and tailored prenatal care for the population and provide positive effects for their families. Woman centered 2 (including three-minute presentation competition)