Abstract

For women with irritable bowel disease (IBD), leading a healthy life during the perinatal period is important because it may affect their quality of life and motherhood. However, little attention has been paid to their challenges and the methods of coping with them. This study therefore aims to explore the challenges women with IBD face and the methods of coping with them during the perinatal period from their viewpoint. Exploratory, qualitative interview study design was used in this study. In-depth, one-on-one, semi-structured interviews were conducted in 2010 to 2011 among eight women having IBD, who experienced pregnancy, delivery and child rearing. The results of the interviews were analyzed by inductive content analysis. The participants recognized the following as challenges: high-risk management by obstetricians in collaboration with gastroenterologists, high risk to physical, mental and social well-being due to IBD relapse, limitation of information necessary during the perinatal period, issues related to the medical profession, and breastfeeding in their own way. They were coping with these issues by self-care for IBD, and making the most of various social support. Since IBD is often diagnosed during women’s reproductive years, gastroenterology and obstetric specialists should cooperate with each other to routinely provide reproductive counseling to women with IBD. Furthermore, we should establish, as early as possible, health care communities for women with IBD, where they can maintain their quality of life and increase their preparedness for parenthood before pregnancy and during the perinatal period, based on multidisciplinary collaboration.

Key words: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), women’s health, nursing, midwifery, multidisciplinary collaboration, reproductive care, pregnancy, child rearing, chronic illness, gastroenterology, qualitative approach.