[The experiences of chronically ill women in the time of pregnancy, birth and postnatal period - a review of qualitative studies].

BACKGROUND: Chronic diseases are an increasing problem worldwide, especially in the industrialized countries. In pregnancy, during birth and in the post natal period the affected women are confronted with interventions and medical treatment in addition to the general physical and psychological challenges. However, there is only little knowledge about coping strategies and the experiences of women with chronic diseases during the childbirth period.
METHOD: An international literature search was conducted from 11/2013 till 03/2014. Relevant papers were identified from databases including Cinahl, Cochrane Library and Pubmed. Key search terms were related to the topics of experiences regarding the medical system and the professional caregivers, the role of the partners and families and the effects on the mother-child relationship.
RESULTS: 11 studies were eligible for inclusion. In the childbearing period women with chronic diseases often feel under pressure because their general condition can cause medical complications. This leads to inner conflicts due to the necessity to derive to varying decisions concerning possible risks for the baby and their own body. Additionally the given information and main medical concepts do often not fit to their special needs and problems. The women feel excluded from the main professional concepts for childbearing women.
CONCLUSION: RESULTS of international studies demonstrate differences in available settings, supportive persons and concepts and impede that the right conclusions can be drawn for the German context. National Research is needed to evaluate the experiences and situation of childbearing women with chronic diseases and to implement adjusted concepts of professional care for this group of woman. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.