Pregnancy, Delivery, and Postpartum Experiences of Fifty-Four Women With Ostomies

Abstract

In Brief Objective The pregnancy, labor, and delivery experiences of women with ostomies are described. Design Patient survey. Settings and subjects Distribution of surveys to women with these experiences: patients of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, referrals by networking of ET nurses, and distribution of surveys at a national conference of the United Ostomy Association and through local ostomy associations. Instrument A 12-point questionnaire was adapted for each type of diversion: ileostomy, urostomy, continent ileostomy, colostomy, and pelvic reservoir. Method The survey was distributed to attendees at a national United Ostomy Association conference and local United Ostomy Association meetings. Surveys were distributed to other ET nurses in the mideastern United States region and to qualified patients at Cleveland Clinic Foundation. Main outcome measure The subjective experiences of pregnancy, labor, and delivery of women with ostomies are described. Results Seventy-five questionnaires were distributed and 54 women responded. Eight women (15%) had fertility problems. Stoma-related problems during the second or third trimester were reported by 68.5%. Most problems were corrected without medical intervention. Conclusions The presence of an ostomy should not be a deterrent to successful pregnancy and delivery. The impact of ostomies on the reproductive experiences of 54 women is reviewed.