Caesarean scar pregnancy: Parents lived experience

Caesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) is a rare and high-risk complication of caesarean birth. To date, studies have described the associated maternal and fetal morbidity; however, the lived experience of parents has yet to be addressed. Here, we aim to describe the experience of CSP as reported by women and partners with a history of CSP.

This is a multi-center study involving participants from two centers, one located in Ireland and one in the UAE. Each woman had experienced one or two pregnancies complicated by CSP. An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) approach was applied to collect and analyze data. Interviews were conducted virtually between January 2023 and November 2024. Twelve participants were included; three couples (n = 6) and six women participants interviewed alone (n = 6).

Women who participated had a median (IQR) age of 34 years (33-39), and all had at least one prior caesarean delivery. Five overall themes were identified relating to the experience of CSP, namely "lack of knowledge", "hurried decision making", "feeling isolated", "becoming pregnant again", and "the impact on relationships". Parents found the decision to end a wanted pregnancy extremely difficult, which was compounded further by the acute isolation they felt being diagnosed with such a rare complication. Participants had no prior knowledge of this condition and struggled to assess risk in the context of uncertainty as to future outcomes.

This study presents the lived experiences of CSP, highlighting how couples struggled with limited prior knowledge and perceived urgency of making life changing decisions. Contemplating future pregnancies was difficult given the uncertainties surrounding potential risks. By presenting the perspectives of patients and their partners for the first time, this study offers unique insights into their experiences, providing valuable information for healthcare providers to consider in future research and in delivering care to this rare group of patients.