Male Partners’ Experiences with a Postpartum Haemorrhage Requiring Surgery: A Qualitative Study

Oda Sibille Moerk Moen, Bente Dahl Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, University of South-Eastern Norway (USN), Borre, NorwayCorrespondence: Bente Dahl, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, University of South-Eastern Norway (USN), Post office Box 4, Borre, 3199, Norway, Tel +47 90626991, Email [email protected]: To explore how male partners experience the sequence of events from the onset of a postpartum haemorrhage until the birthing woman has completed surgical treatment and is transferred to the postnatal ward.Participants and Methods: A qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with eleven male partners living in five different counties in south-eastern Norway. The interviews were carried out in January 2024. Systematic text condensation was used to analyse the data.Results: The data analysis identified three result categories. First, the men reported feeling “trapped in an information vacuu”. Many experienced prolonged periods of waiting alone, often for hours, without receiving timely updates. When information was eventually provided, it was often too vague to understand. Second, the men expressed feeling overwhelmed by the responsibility of caring for a newborn on their own. Finally, the extended hours of waiting without news of their partner’s condition heightened their anxiety, allowing their fears and imagination to spiral, including the fear that they might never see her again.Conclusion: Male partners of women experiencing postpartum haemorrhage require emotional support and regular updates on their partner’s condition while they are in the operative theatre and intensive care unit. Additionally, there is a need to develop maternity care models that address the needs of both the woman and her partner during traumatic events. Midwives play a crucial role in providing support and fostering open communication, which can significantly improve the experience for both partners in challenging situations.Keywords: male partner, interview, postpartum haemorrhage, qualitative