Between a nightmare and a miracle: A qualitative study of patient experience during and after intensive care unit admission in pregnancy or postpartum

Background Intensive care unit (ICU) admission of obstetric patients during pregnancy or postpartum is not uncommon. The long-term physical and emotional implications of such admissions require elucidation. Aim To describe obstetric patients' long-term perspectives on ICU admission and recovery. Methods A phenomenological approach was undertaken. All consecutive obstetric patients admitted to the ICU during 2016–2021 were invited to participate in a semi-structured interview after hospital discharge. Interviews were conducted from 12/2020 to 06/2022, and the transcripts were analyzed using Braun and Clarke's six-phase approach to reflexive thematic analysis. Results A total of 59 women aged 20–34 years admitted to an ICU during pregnancy or postpartum were interviewed. Qualitative inductive analysis of the interview transcripts generated three themes: the illness experience, an atypical patient, and recovery. Repetitive topics were a sense of disorientation, feeling distressed and scared, the importance of remaining in contact with and informed on the neonate, the importance of partner and family support, the challenges of being an atypical ICU patient, the difficulties in returning to normal life, and coping strategies. Conclusions This study sheds new light on the experiences of obstetric patients admitted to an ICU. It highlights missed opportunities for maternal‑neonatal bonding, the importance of family support, unique needs that often remain unmet, the need for effective communication with the ICU staff, and the physical and emotional long-term adverse effects of the experience. The patient's narrative can contribute to our understanding of the ICU experience as a whole and its outcomes.