Four years of maternal admissions to a maternity high-dependency unit

Abstract

There is limited evidence around childbearing women’s experience following a complicated birth requiring maternity high-dependency care. Our objective was to explore women’s experience and wellbeing following a complicated birth within this context.A cross-sectional study captured women’s experience through a postal survey four weeks post birth.A convenience sample of 112 women who received care in the first 24 hours of their stay in a Western Australian maternity high dependency unit.A validated tool designed to explore patients’ intensive care experience was modified and six items were added based upon the literature and in consultation with clinicians.Women felt they were given choice (78%; n = 86); were not glad to be transferred to a ward (62%; n = 68) and were in pain during the first 24 hours of their admission (70%; n = 78). Women who did not feel scared were more likely than those who felt scared to have a clinician explain what had happened (95% vs 78%, P = 0.007); were more likely to feel in control (94% vs 75%, P = 0.006); and were less likely to feel helpless (27% vs 62%, P = <0.001).The transfer experience to a postpartum ward requires further investigation as does the management of pain for these childbearing women regardless of their birth mode.