‘Fallacy of normalcy’ in post-childbirth maternal morbidities: a feminist-pragmatist exploration

Abstract

Women worldwide experience post-childbirth morbidities such as incontinence and pain. While there is limited evidence of women's help-seeking behaviour, many do not seek treatment. This study aimed to explore the key influences on women's help-seeking behaviour 12 months after birth. Three different study approaches were used: a meta-aggregation systematic review, concept mapping and a directed qualitative content approach. Women often did not seek help because they accepted problems as a normal part of motherhood. They were more likely to share problems with family and friends. Online platforms allowed women to share their problems anonymously, but the support provided demonstrated some normalising of abnormal problems. The feminist pragmatic approach highlighted the ‘fallacy of normalcy’ as underpinning women's help-seeking behaviour after childbirth.