Pregnant women's experiences of the digital self-care program

Background: Few pregnant women meet activity guidelines, and about half experience pelvic girdle pain (PGP), with 10% developing chronic symptoms. PGP is multifactorial and tailored physical activity and exercise can reduce pain. A web-based self-care program, Women-In-Motion (WIM), was developed to support physical activity during pregnancy and help prevent and manage PGP. Aim: The study aim was to explore pregnant women's experiences with and perceptions of WIM for managing physical activity and PGP to optimize quality of life during pregnancy. A second aim was to use the results for improvements of WIM. Method: A qualitative approach was employed using focus groups, conducted digitally or in hybrid formats. Pregnant women, gestational weeks <30, were invited. The participants had access to the program one to five weeks prior to focus groups. All sessions were recorded, transcribed, and analysed using a combination of Krueger and Casey's constant comparison method and Graneheim and Lundman's inductive content analysis. Results: Four focus groups were conducted with pregnant women (n=17), representing variation in parity, exercise habits, and experiences of PGP. The analysis resulted in an overarching theme: Conclusion: Overall, participants experienced the WIM program to enhance their confidence, and their shared perceptions of diverse needs will inform program revisions.