Background: The incidence of Placenta Accreta Spectrum (PAS) is increasing. This study explores women's personal experience of a pregnancy, birth and early postpartum period complicated by PAS.
Methods: A qualitative study involving seven women (age range: 33-44 years) following a pregnancy in the previous two years complicated by PAS was conducted. Using an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis approach data were collected and analysed in 2019 and 2020 through face-to-face interviews. Interviews were transcribed verbatim.
Results: Women described their experience from diagnosis up to two years following the birth and focussed on the strategies they used to cope with an unexpected diagnosis of PAS. Six main themes emerged. In pregnancy, women were focussed on the diagnosis and managing family life from hospital "it's not until you are told", "sad but safe", "relying on others can be unbearable". In terms of the birth a 'fear of dying' related to self and baby was central. Postnatally key themes related to the ongoing consequences of the condition as "no one believed I could be feeling so much pain" and "it's not all over when you go home".
Discussion: Women who have experienced a pregnancy complicated by PAS experience significant challenges associated with long term hospitalization, post-operative pain and many express feelings of being generally worried lasting many months after their pregnancy. This study makes an important contribution to the growing body of research in PAS, namely that of the woman's own voice.
Keywords: Coping; Interpretive phenomenological analysis; Peripartum hysterectomy; Placenta accreta spectrum; Qualitative; Traumatic birth.
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