The bubbleverse : women’s experiences of pelvic floor care and their journey through bubbles
Sahin Haglund, Semra LU ; Torstensson, Thomas ; Norén, Jimmy ; Hedvall, Per-Olof LU
and Turkmen, Sahruh
(2026)
In International Urogynecology Journal
- Abstract
- Introduction
This study explores women’s experiences of pelvic floor (PF) care after childbirth, revealing significant insights into their physical and emotional journeys during the transformative period following birth in a Swedish tertiary hospital context. The focus is on women who sustained third- or fourth-degree PF injuries after vaginal birth, viewed through the perspective of universal design (UD).
Methods
The study uses qualitative methods, observations, and interviews to illuminate challenges in PF care. Qualitative content analysis is used to identify themes emerging from participants’ narratives. Comics serve as a visual and multimodal method to depict the variety and sequencing of women’s narratives in... (More) - Introduction
This study explores women’s experiences of pelvic floor (PF) care after childbirth, revealing significant insights into their physical and emotional journeys during the transformative period following birth in a Swedish tertiary hospital context. The focus is on women who sustained third- or fourth-degree PF injuries after vaginal birth, viewed through the perspective of universal design (UD).
Methods
The study uses qualitative methods, observations, and interviews to illuminate challenges in PF care. Qualitative content analysis is used to identify themes emerging from participants’ narratives. Comics serve as a visual and multimodal method to depict the variety and sequencing of women’s narratives in multimodal ways.
Results
The analysis identified two main themes. The first, the Bubbleverse, is a metaphor for women’s experiences across interconnected phases of birth and recovery, where PF injuries were often overshadowed by vaginal birth, newborn care, and future uncertainty. The second theme reflected women’s recommendations for healthcare, calling for timely, individualised communication, and structured support.
Conclusions
The study concludes with a call to reconfigure the fragmented and underprioritised aftercare. Alternative care pathways tailored to individual needs are essential for more equitable PF care.
(Less) - Abstract (Swedish)
- Introduction
This study explores women’s experiences of pelvic floor (PF) care after childbirth, revealing significant insights into their physical and emotional journeys during the transformative period following birth in a Swedish tertiary hospital context. The focus is on women who sustained third- or fourth-degree PF injuries after vaginal birth, viewed through the perspective of universal design (UD).
Methods
The study uses qualitative methods, observations, and interviews to illuminate challenges in PF care. Qualitative content analysis is used to identify themes emerging from participants’ narratives. Comics serve as a visual and multimodal method to depict the variety and sequencing of women’s narratives in... (More) - Introduction
This study explores women’s experiences of pelvic floor (PF) care after childbirth, revealing significant insights into their physical and emotional journeys during the transformative period following birth in a Swedish tertiary hospital context. The focus is on women who sustained third- or fourth-degree PF injuries after vaginal birth, viewed through the perspective of universal design (UD).
Methods
The study uses qualitative methods, observations, and interviews to illuminate challenges in PF care. Qualitative content analysis is used to identify themes emerging from participants’ narratives. Comics serve as a visual and multimodal method to depict the variety and sequencing of women’s narratives in multimodal ways.
Results
The analysis identified two main themes. The first, the Bubbleverse, is a metaphor for women’s experiences across interconnected phases of birth and recovery, where PF injuries were often overshadowed by vaginal birth, newborn care, and future uncertainty. The second theme reflected women’s recommendations for healthcare, calling for timely, individualised communication, and structured support.
Conclusions
The study concludes with a call to reconfigure the fragmented and underprioritised aftercare. Alternative care pathways tailored to individual needs are essential for more equitable PF care.
(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/f96e2b8a-0324-47ac-941c-a07944ff07d2
- author
- Sahin Haglund, Semra
LU
; Torstensson, Thomas
; Norén, Jimmy
; Hedvall, Per-Olof
LU
and Turkmen, Sahruh
- organization
- publishing date
- 2026-06-16
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- epub
- subject
- in
- International Urogynecology Journal
- publisher
- Springer
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:42301316
- scopus:105041943818
- ISSN
- 1433-3023
- DOI
- 10.1007/s00192-026-06770-w
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- f96e2b8a-0324-47ac-941c-a07944ff07d2
- date added to LUP
- 2026-06-18 11:00:47
- date last changed
- 2026-08-10 14:04:27
@article{f96e2b8a-0324-47ac-941c-a07944ff07d2,
abstract = {{Introduction<br/>This study explores women’s experiences of pelvic floor (PF) care after childbirth, revealing significant insights into their physical and emotional journeys during the transformative period following birth in a Swedish tertiary hospital context. The focus is on women who sustained third- or fourth-degree PF injuries after vaginal birth, viewed through the perspective of universal design (UD).<br/><br/>Methods<br/>The study uses qualitative methods, observations, and interviews to illuminate challenges in PF care. Qualitative content analysis is used to identify themes emerging from participants’ narratives. Comics serve as a visual and multimodal method to depict the variety and sequencing of women’s narratives in multimodal ways.<br/><br/>Results<br/>The analysis identified two main themes. The first, the Bubbleverse, is a metaphor for women’s experiences across interconnected phases of birth and recovery, where PF injuries were often overshadowed by vaginal birth, newborn care, and future uncertainty. The second theme reflected women’s recommendations for healthcare, calling for timely, individualised communication, and structured support.<br/><br/>Conclusions<br/>The study concludes with a call to reconfigure the fragmented and underprioritised aftercare. Alternative care pathways tailored to individual needs are essential for more equitable PF care.<br/><br/>}},
author = {{Sahin Haglund, Semra and Torstensson, Thomas and Norén, Jimmy and Hedvall, Per-Olof and Turkmen, Sahruh}},
issn = {{1433-3023}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{06}},
publisher = {{Springer}},
series = {{International Urogynecology Journal}},
title = {{The bubbleverse : women’s experiences of pelvic floor care and their journey through bubbles}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00192-026-06770-w}},
doi = {{10.1007/s00192-026-06770-w}},
year = {{2026}},
}