The pregnancy experiences of amputee women: a qualitative exploration of online posts

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.

Effect of pregnancy on anthropometrics, comfort, and functional performance for women living with transfemoral limb loss: Case report

Women living with limb loss (amputees) have unique needs that increase during pregnancy. Comfort, pain, and activity are exponentially compromised. Changes in mass and altered center of gravity increase the likelihood of falls and compromise safety for the mother and unborn baby. Subjective and physical functional performance measures data was collected through 2 separate pregnancies on a 36-year-old woman with a right transfemoral amputation. Physiological changes during pregnancy effected comfort, pain, and functional performance. Clinical practice guidelines for prosthetic management should be established to include protocols such as adjustment schedules, specialized socket design, and necessary component changes throughout the course of pregnancy.