Lack of care? Women's experiences of maternity bladder management

Abstract

Background A healthy urinary system is vital to every woman's life, and the relationship between childbirth and bladder dysfunction has been well documented in the medical literature. Aims To explore women's bladder care experiences during the antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum periods. Methods An exploratory, descriptive research study with nine in-depth semi-structured interviews. Findings Thematic analysis showed three themes: ‘muddling through to earn “a badge of honour”’, ‘caring for a baby, but who cares for me?’ and ‘do you speak bladder language?’ with an overarching theme of ‘lack of bladder care’. Women's experiences reflected a lack of understanding, information, and promotion regarding bladder care, aggravated by the use of ambiguous language when professionals communicated with women about bladder health. Conclusions Bladder care was very limited for women during the antepartum, intrapartum and postpartum period although reports of urinary incontinence were frequent. Bladder care could therefore be characterised as ‘lack of bladder care’. Clinicians should become more proactive in delivering information and promoting bladder health during these periods but that attention needs to be paid to communication methods.

Shared decision-making during childbirth in maternity units: the VIP mixed-methods study

“…For example, we noticed decisions that were not asked about in the questionnaires but that we found to be reasonably routine, such as decisions about catheterisation and, during the latent phase, being sent home or to an antenatal ward. Women's experience of bladder care during labour is under-researched 291 and, although more is known about their experiences of the latent phase, our data suggest that these 'gatekeeping' decisions about remaining in the MLU before active labour are sensitive and consequential. 292 Our focus directly on the initiation of, and responses to, decision initiations also meant that we excluded aspects of care that might frame decision-making, 129 for example discussions about birth plans that may (or may not) frame recommendations in ways that align with women's preferences (see Barnes 293 for relevant CA work in general practitioner consultations).…”

The Experience of Women From Underrepresented Groups With Urinary Incontinence: A Systematic Review

“…Perinatal incontinence is often normalized ( Avery et al, 2015 ), seen as part of women’s lives ( Melville et al, 2008 ), and a source of stigma, shame ( Israfil-Bayli et al, 2015 ), and loneliness ( Brett, 2021 ). Women’s lack of understanding of bladder health is reinforced by professional neglect and lack of direct inquiry into urinary symptoms, as newborns’ health is often prioritized over women’s wellbeing by health providers and women themselves ( Gutiérrez et al, 2019 ). An amalgamation of professional lack of knowledge and embarrassment, alongside women’s unwillingness to disclose incontinence issues, has also been described during and after pregnancy ( Williams et al, 2003 ).…”

O Acompanhante Durante O Trabalho De Parto: Uma Revisão Narrativa

“…Uma das características apontadas para a melhoria na qualidade dos cuidados prestados, é a formação especializada que os enfermeiros especialistas quando comparada com enfermeiros generalista. Gutiérrez et al, (2019) reforça essa premissa ao referir que durante toda a gestação as equipas multidisciplinares negligenciam, as alterações urinarias e alterações do pavimento pélvico, embora ocorram frequentemente relatados de incontinência urinária. Concluem que existe a necessidade de gerar uma atitude mais proativa por parte das equipas, para equipar as mulheres com a informação necessária para prevenir e reconhecer sinais de alterações do sistema génito-urinário.…”