Lived experience of postpartum women with persistent hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: a descriptive phenomenological study

Persistent hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in the postpartum period are associated with significant maternal morbidity. However, women’s experiences of managing this condition during the postpartum transition remain underexplored, particularly within the evolving rural–urban contexts of middle-income nations. This study explored the lived experiences of postpartum women with persistent hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. A descriptive phenomenological approach was used to recruit 16 postpartum women in northeastern Thailand who were at least 12 weeks postpartum. Participants were purposively selected and participated in in-depth, semi-structured interviews lasting 60–90 min. Data saturation was achieved after the sixteenth interview. Data were analyzed using Colaizzi’s method, and methodological rigor was ensured through adherence to Lincoln and Guba’s criteria for trustworthiness throughout the research process. Six themes were identified, derived from fourteen subthemes. The themes included: (1) Battling hypertension, (2) Daily life constrained by physical hardships, (3) Confronting emotional discomfort, (4) Restoring the body and mind to a normal stage, (5) Leveraging interpersonal support in managing hypertension, and (6) Encountering personal and systemic barriers in hypertension management. The findings revealed the interconnected challenges experienced by postpartum women with persistent hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, highlighting the emotional, physical, and social dimensions of their recovery journey. These findings underscore the need for nurses and midwives to deliver holistic, culturally sensitive care that extends beyond the biomedical management of hypertension to address the emotional and social complexities of postpartum recovery.