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.