‘Fallacy of normalcy’ in post-childbirth maternal morbidities: a feminist-pragmatist exploration
Maryam Rouhi, Patricia Nicholson, Elaine Crisp, Silvana Bettiol, Christine Stirling- Maternity and Midwifery
Background/Aims
Women worldwide experience post-childbirth morbidities such as incontinence and pain. While there is limited evidence of women's help-seeking behaviour, many do not seek treatment. This study aimed to explore the key influences on women's help-seeking behaviour 12 months after birth.
Methods
Three different study approaches were used: a meta-aggregation systematic review, concept mapping and a directed qualitative content approach.
Results
Women often did not seek help because they accepted problems as a normal part of motherhood. They were more likely to share problems with family and friends. Online platforms allowed women to share their problems anonymously, but the support provided demonstrated some normalising of abnormal problems.
Conclusions
The feminist pragmatic approach highlighted the ‘fallacy of normalcy’ as underpinning women's help-seeking behaviour after childbirth.