Information-hungry and disempowered: a qualitative study of women and their partners' experiences of severe postpartum haemorrhage.

OBJECTIVE

to explore how severe postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) and its management is experienced by women and their partners, and how they later view events.

DESIGN

interpretive phenomenological qualitative study with semi-structured interviews.

SETTING

in-depth interviews were conducted in participants' homes and focused on experiences of PPH in hospital and post-discharge.

PARTICIPANTS

nine women who had experienced severe PPH and six partners.

FINDINGS

this study demonstrates the stressful and emotional nature of severe PPH and extends the literature by considering partners' perspectives. Women and men had different experiences and information needs, but interviewees often shared a common desire for help to understand past events. A dominant theme of communication difficulties, and two subthemes, disempowerment and information-deprivation arose strongly from the data. Communication difficulties were understandable during the emergency but were frustrating and upsetting in postpartum care and the longer term.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

research is needed to develop better communication and supportive strategies, which might avoid the sense of disempowerment in this potentially vulnerable population. Different information and support needs for women and men should be considered whatever policies are implemented.