Mapping the perioperative symptom management journey of women undergoing cesarean section: a qualitative study

Cesarean section is a common surgical birth that involves complex physical and psychosocial challenges for women. Effective perioperative symptom management requires addressing women’s physical, emotional, and informational needs across different stages of care. This study explores women’s multidimensional perioperative symptom management needs through journey mapping, providing empirical evidence to optimize symptom management and inform targeted nursing interventions. Using a descriptive qualitative research approach, 17 women who had undergone cesarean section were purposively recruited from a tertiary hospital in Ningbo, China, and participated in semi-structured interviews between September and October 2025. Data were analyzed using content analysis, and a journey map of women’s experiences was developed. Using a four-stage temporal framework (preoperative admission, day of surgery, in-hospital recovery, and discharge transition), key themes were identified across three dimensions: tasks, emotions, and pain points. These included differences between elective and emergency decision-making, fear related to surgery, gaps in information provision, variability in pain management, challenges in adapting to the maternal role, and limited support from family and healthcare systems. Perioperative journey mapping highlights key opportunities to optimize symptom management and care coordination across the cesarean section continuum. Enhancing stage-specific nursing support and communication may enhance women’s care experiences, emotional well-being, and postoperative recovery.