“This is hard to cope with”: the lived experience and coping strategies adopted amongst Australian women with pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy

Abstract

Background Women with pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain (PPGP) report diminished ability to perform physical activities and experience higher rates of mood disorders, such as anxiety and depression, than pregnant women without PPGP. Despite these physical and psychological impacts, little is known about the lived experiences of PPGP amongst Australian women and the ways in which they cope. Situated within biographical disruption and social support theories, this study sought to gain a conceptual understanding of the experience and impact of PPGP on daily life, and how women cope with this condition during pregnancy. Methods A qualitative research design, situated within a phenomenological framework, using individual, semi-structured interviews consisting of open-ended questions was used with a flexible and responsive approach. Purposive sampling of pregnant women attending a single hospital included 20 participants between 14 and 38 weeks gestation, classified with PPGP as per recommended guidelines, with a mean (SD) age of 31.37 (4.16) years. Thematic analysis was performed where interview data was transcribed, coded, grouped into meaningful categories and then constructed into broad themes. Results Three themes were identified: 1. a transformed biography; 2. coping strategies; and 3. what women want. The pain experienced created a dramatic change in women’s lives, making the pregnancy difficult to endure. Women utilised social support, such as family, to help them cope with pain, and a self-care approach to maintain a positive mindset and reduce stress. Although a few women received support from healthcare professionals, many reported a lack information on PPGP and limited societal recognition of the condition. Women wanted early education, personalised information and prompt referral to help them cope with PPGP. Conclusions Findings from this study highlighted the complexity of living with PPGP as women attempted to deal with the unexpected impact on daily life by seeking support from partners and families, while also struggling with societal expectations. Although women with PPGP used a number of coping strategies, they sought greater support from healthcare professionals to effectively manage PPGP. These findings have important implications for the provision of health care to women living with PPGP. Trial registration Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12618001423202.

Application of Caring Life‐Course Theory to explore care needs in women with pregnancy‐related pelvic girdle pain

“…The high prevalence of PPGP reported worldwide, coupled with the reported gaps in healthcare services offered to these women, signify a condition that requires improved caring solutions (Ceprnja et al, 2022; Fishburn & Cooper, 2015). Indeed, recent evidence reveals a significant proportion of women with PPGP may develop persistent pain which leads to a long‐term burden of disease if not managed effectively during pregnancy (Bergström et al, 2017).…”

“…Information and communication technologies (ICT) including applications and websites, were described by women in this study as resources that might be able to promote S-C. Women's experiences with ICT during pregnancy are generally positive, with many reporting frequent use to search for information and provision of support for healthy behaviours (van den Heuvel et al, 2018). Women spoke of a need for information from trusted and credible sources to make informed choices about their care--a recurring theme in studies of women with PPGP (Ceprnja et al, 2022;Mackenzie et al, 2018).…”

“…Women value education and services provided by healthcare professionals, and report caring for themselves to reduce the impact of PPGP (Ceprnja et al, 2022;Mackenzie et al, 2018). However, there is a need to further examine care provision for this population.…”

Drivers, barriers, and response to care of Australian pregnant women seeking chiropractic care for low back and pelvic girdle pain: A qualitative case study

“…Respondents experiencing unexpected moderate to severe pain described how they felt despondent and inadequate, identi ed under the "care drivers" theme. The attitude of normal expectation of LBP, PGP or LPGP from antenatal providers and pregnant women, is a common revelation (18,39,42,44) and barrier in seeking out care. Women have reported not wanting to feel bothersome reporting pain or feel judged in their di culty coping with pain (42).…”

“…The attitude of normal expectation of LBP, PGP or LPGP from antenatal providers and pregnant women, is a common revelation (18,39,42,44) and barrier in seeking out care. Women have reported not wanting to feel bothersome reporting pain or feel judged in their di culty coping with pain (42). When they received prenatal advice on LPGP, respondents indicated that antenatal reassurance, exercise, relaxation, medication, and ergonomic advice did not improve disabling LPGP, nor improve sleep quality, ability to walk and pain hindered their exercise.…”