Grieving over the past and struggling forward : A qualitative study of women's experiences of chronic pain one year after childbirth

OBJECTIVE: To describe women's experiences of chronic pain related to childbirth approximately one year after labour. DESIGN: A qualitative design with face-to-face interviews analysed using inductive qualitative content analysis. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty women who reported chronic pain, with onset during pregnancy and/or following labour, approximately one year after childbirth. FINDINGS: The analysis revealed an essential theme, "Grieving over the past and struggling forward", and three categories "Mourning the losses", "Struggling with the present" and "Managing the future". CONCLUSIONS: This study provides new knowledge about women's experiences of chronic pain one year after childbirth. The pain severely reduced women´s previous ability to perform physical and social activities, negatively impacted psychological well-being and altered their self-image. Most of the women adopted a positive attitude and hoped for improved health in the future, although constantly struggling with the pain and its consequences. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: This knowledge is particularly important as chronic pain may not diminish with time in predisposed individuals who may need help and support from health professionals in their endeavour to manage their pain. Healthcare providers, i.e. midwives, gynaecologists and general practitioners need to understand women´s experiences of chronic pain from their own perspective to improve identification and treatment of pain following childbirth, thus preventing women's suffering and potential long-term health problems. Future studies are warranted to further explore and discuss women's coping strategies, health seeking behaviour and experiences of health care