“They Ask Whether This Is Real or Fake”: A Qualitative Norwegian Study of Pregnancy Complaints and Access to Social Benefits

Abstract

Women increasingly combine paid work and childbearing, but working full time throughout pregnancy is commonly experienced as overtaxing. We explored access to sick leave or medical care as experienced by Norwegian women suffering from pelvic girdle pain during pregnancy. Through a grounded theory approach we compared results from qualitative interviews and open Internet discussions, and found that women struggled with credibility and that their claims for sick leave or medical care were commonly disregarded. Support from peers was seen as instrumental in regaining control over their health and was a vehicle in developing critical health literacy.

Acknowledgments

We thank the interviewees from the patient organization, and the midwife in charge of BarniMagen.com for their positive contributions to our study. We also thank Norske Kvinners Sanitetsforening and Bergen University College for funding the study.