Effect of pregnancy on anthropometrics, comfort, and functional performance for women living with transfemoral limb loss: Case report

The physical experiences of women with lower limb absence during pregnancy and postpartum: symptoms, prosthesis management & mobility

PURPOSE

Little information is available to women with lower limb absence (LLA) and their health care providers regarding the impacts they may experience during the perinatal period. This study explores the physical impacts of pregnancy on women with LLA, including mobility, prosthesis fit and prosthesis use.

METHODS

We conducted semi-structured interviews with 19 women with LLA who had experienced pregnancy in the last 10 years. Interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Substantial variation exists in the experience of women's physical symptoms, prosthesis management and mobility. Physical symptoms were similar to any pregnant individual, but the impacts were more substantial. As volume change in the residual limb can impact prosthesis fit, self-management techniques and prosthetist adjustments were used to manage it. Pregnancy impacted the way in which women were mobile and the activities they chose to participate in. A wide variety of creative mobility solutions were utilized to complete activities including prosthesis use, assistive equipment and adaptive movement.

CONCLUSIONS

Women with LLA and their health care providers must be aware of the wide range of experiences women face during pregnancy and treat each pregnancy uniquely. Planning ahead and working with a health care team can mitigate many of these challenges.

Resources, relationships, and resilience: The psychosocial experiences of women with lower limb absence during pregnancy and postpartum

BACKGROUND

There is limited research on the unique needs of women with lower limb absence (LLA) during pregnancy and postpartum. The lack of information can negatively impact women's physical and emotional experiences.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study is to explore the psychosocial experiences of individuals with LLA through the pregnancy and postpartum periods, and to provide information to women and health care providers (HCPs) on what they can expect.

METHODS

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 women with LLA who had been pregnant in the previous 10 years. Interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Participants experienced uncertainty due to a lack of information and limited resources related to pregnancy and LLA. While most women had strong support networks including family, other mothers with LLA and HCPs, some women faced stigma or judgement from HCPs and people in their social networks. Some women had periods where they struggled mentally due to a temporary loss of independence. Despite these challenges, they demonstrated tremendous resilience and noted that their ability to adapt helped them to navigate the difficulties they experienced in the perinatal period (PNP).

CONCLUSION

There is an immediate need to fill the 'information gap' about pregnancy and LLA. We recommend the development of support networks, informational guidelines, and further education for HCPs to better support women with LLA through the PNP. Further research is warranted to gain a better understanding of the mental health experiences of women with LLA in the PNP.