Abstract

To propose postpartum recovery domains.Concept elicitation study SETTING: Semi-structured interviews POPULATION: 10 writing committee members and 50 stakeholder interviews (23 postpartum women, 9 general obstetricians, 5 maternal fetal medicine specialists, 8 nurses and 5 obstetric anaesthetists).Alternating interviews and focus group meetings until concept saturation was achieved (no new themes in 3 consecutive interviews). Interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed, and an iterative coding process utilised to identify domains.The primary outcome was to identify recovery domains. We also report key symptoms and concerns. Discussion frequency and importance scores (0-100; 0=not important; 100=vitally important to recovery) were used to rank domains. Discussion frequency was used to rank factors helping and hindering recovery, and determine the greatest challenges experienced postpartum.34 interviews and 2 focus group meetings were performed. The 13 postpartum recovery domains identified, (ranked highest to lowest) were: psychosocial distress, surgical / medical factors, infant feeding and breast health, psychosocial support, pain, physical function, sleep, motherhood experience, infant health, fatigue, appearance, sexual function and cognition. The most frequently discussed factors facilitating postpartum recovery were: family support, lactation / breastfeeding support and partner support. The most frequently discussed factor hindering recovery was inadequate social support. The most frequent challenges reported were: breastfeeding (week 1), breastfeeding (week 3) and sleep (week 6).We propose 13 domains, which comprehensively describe recovery in women delivering in a single centre within the United States. This provides a novel framework to study the postpartum recovery process.

View details for DOI 10.1111/1471-0528.16937

View details for PubMedID 34536324