Pregnancy after amputation: A national survey of prosthetic and mobility outcomes in women with lived experience.
Emma A Bateman, Ricardo Viana, Darda Sales and 1 others
PMID 40228235WHAT IT FOUND
Most women with lower-limb amputation reported mobility changes during pregnancy, including falls and poor prosthesis fit.
Many needed a wheelchair postpartum. Seven advised arranging a back-up mobility plan before delivery, as resuming prosthesis use within days was not guaranteed.
Key findings
01Ten of sixteen women reported changes to their mobility during pregnancy, and six fell at least once.
02While nine women resumed prosthesis use within one to two days postpartum, seven needed to use a wheelchair for at least that long.
03Women who received little advice from providers wished they had been warned about residual limb swelling and the high likelihood of needing a back-up mobility plan.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The sample size is very small (16 women), which limits the generalizability of the findings. Convenience sampling and recruitment through social media may introduce volunteer bias, potentially overrepresenting women who had difficult pregnancies. The study relies on recall of events from up to five years ago, which may affect the accuracy of reported details. The high rates of complications and Caesarean sections may reflect the specific experiences of this small group rather than the broader population of women with amputations.
Declared interests
The authors disclosed no financial or non-financial conflicts of interest. The study received no specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the high rates of complications, such as postpartum depression and Caesarean section, as definitive evidence that pregnancy is inherently riskier for women with amputations. The authors note these findings may be influenced by volunteer bias, where women with more difficult experiences were more likely to participate.