Health and Well-Being among Women with Physical Disabilities After Childbirth: An Exploratory Study

Although research about pregnancy for women with disabilities has increased, their postpartum experience has received little attention. Studies generally focus on parenting, not on the health of the mothers themselves, despite recent studies underscoring the health risks they may face. Thus, our purpose was to examine postpartum health among women with physical disabilities, including how they maintain or improve their health.

Semistructured interviews were conducted with eleven new mothers with physically disabling conditions. A qualitative descriptive approach was used to analyze the transcribed interviews and identify themes.

Nine women had delivered via cesarean section, and most had mobility impairments. Their average age was 35 years; 91% were college educated and 82% had a partner. Six overarching themes were identified: paying a price to have the baby, focus on the baby, supports-or a lack thereof, feelings of isolation, getting challenges under control/overcoming barriers, and not quite there yet/getting back to health promotion.

Despite their resilience in dealing with the challenges of caring for their babies within the context of their disabling conditions (including recovery from complications from the birth experience), these women clearly identified the need for additional resources and supports. They also recognized limitations to their own health that came along with their parenting responsibilities. Health care providers should be more attuned to the postpartum needs of women with physical disabilities, and policies should provide additional supports such as insurance coverage for home visits to help maximize women's health and well-being during this important life transition.