Women’s experiences and perceptions of postpartum care in Saudi Arabia: a qualitative study

Postpartum care is essential for maternal well-being, yet limited qualitative work in Saudi Arabia has explored how women make sense of early postnatal experiences. This study explored postpartum women’s experiences of birth and hospital care and how perceived emotional, informational, and cultural support shaped recovery and health-promoting behaviours. A qualitative study guided by Reflexive Thematic Analysis using semi-structured interviews was conducted at King Khaled University Hospital in Riyadh. Data were collected between January and February 2025. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 20 postpartum women who were medically stable, had recently given birth (vaginal or caesarean), had different levels of parity and were able to participate in an interview. Four interconnected themes described women’s experiences: physical recovery and birth experiences; informational and educational support; emotional and social support; and systemic and cultural influences. Women identified gaps in several WHO-recommended elements, including consistency of pain management, breastfeeding counselling, and discharge preparation. Limited informational support reduced perceived control and hindered engagement in health-promoting behaviours, reflecting key constructs of Pender’s model. Emotional well-being was shaped by the quality of staff communication, perceived respect, and the availability of family support, which influenced confidence and adjustment. This study highlights that, although clinical care is generally competent, gaps in emotional support, informational continuity, nursery availability, and discharge preparedness continue to affect women’s confidence, recovery, and perceived safety. Strengthening postpartum services in line with WHO postnatal care standards through flexible, woman-centred, and culturally responsive approaches together with enhanced behavioural support may improve maternal adaptation and overall well-being. Future multi-site research is needed to guide postpartum care policies and service models more broadly in Saudi Arabia.