Unmet Needs in Hospital Birth: Perspectives from Birthing Individuals and Opportunities for Occupational Therapy

Authors

• Susan L. Iliff, Belmont UniversityFollow
• Emily Bryant Schreiber, Belmont UniversityFollow

Abstract

Purpose: The primary purpose of this study was to explore the services mothers receive during hospital‑based labor and delivery and to identify perceived gaps in inpatient perinatal care. A secondary aim was to examine how these unmet needs may represent opportunities for occupational therapy involvement within hospital maternity settings. Methods: A convergent parallel mixed methods design was used with an anonymous electronic survey. Participants were eligible if they were 18 years or older and had given birth in a hospital within the past five years. Eighty‑one participants completed the survey, which included demographic questions, satisfaction ratings related to standard‑of‑care services, and open‑ended questions regarding birth experiences. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and qualitative data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Most mothers reported receiving and being satisfied with standard hospital services. Despite this, qualitative findings revealed five themes reflecting unmet needs: (1) lack of personalized care, (2) feeling unsupported or overlooked after delivery, (3) poor timeliness and coordination of services, (4) inadequate pain management, and (5) challenges with breastfeeding support. Mothers frequently expressed interest in additional services, including individualized pain management strategies, enhanced breastfeeding support, mental health interventions, and referrals for pelvic floor therapy. Conclusions: Although standard‑of‑care services were generally provided, mothers reported persistent gaps in inpatient perinatal care that negatively affected their hospital experience. Findings suggest that occupational therapy practitioners may help address these unmet needs through individualized, client‑centered interventions that support functional recovery, pain management, breastfeeding, and role transition during the inpatient perinatal period.

Author Bio(s)

Susan Iliff, PhD, OTR/L, BCP is an Associate Professor at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. She has over 20 years of experience in occupational therapy education. Her scholarly interests include higher education, pediatrics, and partnering with community agencies to conduct participatory research. She has practiced OT for over 25 years and her clinical work has focused on pediatrics in a variety of settings.

Emily Bryant Schreiber, OTD, OTR/L was a doctoral occupational therapy student at the time this research project was conducted. Currently she is a practicing acute care and pediatric occupational therapist in Nashville, Tennessee.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to express their sincere gratitude to the mothers who generously shared their time and experiences, making this research possible. We also acknowledge the support of our colleagues and mentors for their valuable insights throughout the development of this study. No external funding was received for this study. The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Recommended Citation

Iliff SL, Bryant Schreiber E. Unmet Needs in Hospital Birth: Perspectives from Birthing Individuals and Opportunities for Occupational Therapy. The Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice. 2026 Sep 01;24(3), Article 27.