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Research Article Women's experience of maternity high-dependency care following a complicated birth: A
Yvonne Hauck1, Lucy Lewis1, Helen Overing2
1Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia; King Edward Memorial Hospital, Subiaco, Western Australia, Australia.
Objective:
There is limited evidence around childbearing women's experience following a complicated birth requiring maternity high-dependency care. Our objective was to explore women's experience and wellbeing following a complicated birth within this context.
Research Methodology/Design:
A cross-sectional study captured women's experience through a postal survey four weeks post birth.
Setting:
A convenience sample of 112 women who received care in the first 24 hours of their stay in a Western Australian maternity high dependency unit.
Main Outcome Measures:
A validated tool designed to explore patients' intensive care experience was modified and six items were added based upon the literature and in consultation with clinicians.
Results:
Women felt they were given choice (78%; n = 86); were not glad to be transferred to a ward (62%; n = 68) and were in pain during the first 24 hours of their admission (70%; n = 78). Women who did not feel scared were more likely than those who felt scared to have a clinician explain what had happened (95% vs 78%, P = 0.007); were more likely to feel in control (94% vs 75%, P = 0.006); and were less likely to feel helpless (27% vs 62%, P = <0.001).
Conclusion:
The transfer experience to a postpartum ward requires further investigation as does the management of pain for these childbearing women regardless of their birth mode.