Life's pregnant pause of pain: Pregnant women's experiences of pelvic girdle pain related to daily life: A Swedish interview study

• Introduction: Pelvic girdle pain (PGP) is a universally disabling condition affecting three of 10 pregnant women. Qualitative studies on the subject are lacking. Objective: To describe pregnant women’s experiences of PGP related to everyday life. Methods: In all, 27 women with PGP participating in a randomised controlled study were interviewed during 2010 to 2011. Qualitative content analysis was used. Results: Five main categories emerged; Pelvic girdle pain affects the ability to cope with everyday life; Coping with motherhood; Relationships between partners often reached th breaking point; Questioning one´s identity as defined by profession and work and; Lessons learned from living with PGP. The categories illustrate how women’s everyday lives were interrupted. Their ability to meet their own and others´ expectations put a strain on their lives causing disappointment, sadness, and frustration. It made them question and doubt their roles and identities as mothers, partners and professionals, and kept them from looking forward to future pregnancies, in the absence of effective treatment for PGP. Knowledge gained was that women with PGP should seek help immediately, listen to their bodies and acknowledge their limitations. Conclusion: PGP severely affects pregnant women’s everyday lives. There appears to be a lack of knowledge and awareness of PGP in general, as well as among caregivers and employers of PGP that needs to be highlighted and rectified. There is also a great need to learn how to support those suffering from it. Appropriate support during this important and rare phase in a woman’s life is warranted.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Omvårdnad (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Nursing (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Reproduktionsmedicin och gynekologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Experience; Pregnancy; Pelvic girdle pain; Qualitative interview study

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