“I'm sorry, I can't. I feel the tears coming on already”: The views of mothers, midwives and physiotherapists on postpartum recovery in New Zealand

ML Roberts Prize Winner

Authors

  • Ariana Watane Physiotherapy Department, Centre for Health and Social Practice, Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec) (Te Pūkenga – New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology), New Zealand
  • Suzie Belcher Physiotherapy Department, Centre for Health and Social Practice, Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec) (Te Pūkenga – New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology), New Zealand
  • Debbie Ward Physiotherapy Department, Centre for Health and Social Practice, Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec) (Te Pūkenga – New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology), New Zealand
  • Emily Webb Physiotherapy Department, Centre for Health and Social Practice, Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec) (Te Pūkenga – New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology), New Zealand.
  • Kesava Kovanur Sampath Physiotherapy Department, Centre for Health and Social Practice, Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec) (Te Pūkenga – New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology), New Zealand; University of Technology, ARCCIM, Sydney, Australia; Centre of Excellence in Manual and Manipulative Therapy, Duke University, USA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15619/nzjp.v53i1.413

Keywords:

Childbirth, Physiotherapy, Postpartum, Recovery, Rehabilitation

Abstract

Worldwide, mothers experience physical postpartum symptoms affecting their quality of life, such as perineal pain, urinary incontinence, faecal incontinence, pelvic girdle pain, and dyspareunia. However, the experience of postpartum recovery in New Zealand is poorly understood. The primary objective of this study was to explore the views of postpartum mothers, midwives, and pelvic and women’s health physiotherapists regarding physical postpartum symptoms. The secondary objective was to investigate perceptions of the response of New Zealand’s funded maternity services, including access to pelvic and women’s health physiotherapy. Fifteen participants completed a semi-structured interview: five mothers in the first postpartum year, five midwives, and five pelvic and women’s health physiotherapists. Through thematic analysis, five key themes were identified: (a) beliefs about the postpartum period; (b) the “knock-on” effect; (c), the current maternity model; (d) belief that pelvic and women’s health physiotherapy can help; and (e) barriers and facilitators to pelvic and women’s health physiotherapy. Physical postpartum symptoms were seen to limit daily activities and have psychological ramifications for mothers. Participants felt that there is limited support for mothers’ physical symptoms under New Zealand’s funded maternity services. Pelvic and women’s health physiotherapy was perceived as a beneficial service for postpartum rehabilitation; however, several perceived barriers to this service were noted, including cost, a lack of knowledge, and difficulty navigating the healthcare system. Greater contributions are desired for mothers’ physical symptoms under the current maternity model of care, including more funding, education initiatives, and improved referral methods.

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Published

31-03-2025

How to Cite

“I’m sorry, I can’t. I feel the tears coming on already”: The views of mothers, midwives and physiotherapists on postpartum recovery in New Zealand: ML Roberts Prize Winner. (2025). New Zealand Journal of Physiotherapy, 53(1), 19–31. https://doi.org/10.15619/nzjp.v53i1.413

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