“Will I ever recover?”, Women’s experiences and perceptions of mental health following pregnancy and birth complications: A qualitative study

BACKGROUND: Experiencing complications in pregnancy and birth is often associated with poor postpartum health outcomes and can have lasting consequences for women. Understanding women's subjective experiences of pregnancy and/or birth complications and how they feel such experiences impact their current mental health is essential to better inform supports and resources. AIM: To explore how women experience and describe their mental health following pregnancy and birth complications in Ireland. METHODS: We conducted semi-structured interviews with 21 women from February to May 2024. Participants were purposively sampled. Eligible women were ≥ 18 years of age and had been between 12 months and 5 years since experiencing a pregnancy and/or birth complication. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to develop themes and subthemes. FINDINGS: We developed four main themes: 1) 'Expectations versus reality' highlighted the disconnect between women's hopes for pregnancy and birth, and the unexpected nature of their actual experiences. 2) 'Unresolved consequences' reflected women's ongoing psychological and mental health challenges, particularly regarding anxiety and concerns for future pregnancies. 3) 'Perception of healthcare experiences' highlighted the importance of effective communication with healthcare providers, 4) 'Support and systems' described interpersonal and structural supports, and networks important to women. CONCLUSION: Women's experiences of mental health following pregnancy and birth complications are impacted by multiple factors throughout their pregnancy and birth journey. To improve the mental health experiences of women who have pregnancy and/or birth complications, access to information, resources, and supports at interpersonal and structural levels is needed.