Living with uncertainty: a Swedish qualitative interview study of women at home on sick leave due to premature labour.

Objective: to highlight the experiences of pregnant women, experiencing preterm labour, being on sick leave at home and how they handled their daily life.

Design: qualitative, descriptive using open interviews.

Setting: 10 antenatal clinics in the south of Sweden.

Participants: 15 pregnant women who were on sick leave for premature labour.

Findings: four categories were identified: how to interpret unpredictable contractions in the uterus? Having concern regarding premature labour of their child, handling the new situation and finding a balance, and from work to sick leave.

Key Conclusions: to be on sick leave for premature contractions can be compared with enduring a situation of inactivity. The woman finds herself in a stressful situation which she must learn to handle this and find a balance.

Implications For Practice: it appears that supportive information offers the women in premature labour the opportunity of increased participation and responsibility which thereby positively affects her well-being.