Table 2 Summary of the themes and categories of midwives’ lived experiences caring for women with mobility disabilities during pregnancy, labour and puerperium

1. Physical and emotional efforts required from midwives to provide maternity care to women with mobility disabilities

1.1 Midwives experienced that women with mobility disabilities needed assistance getting onto the bed during labour and delivery

1.2 Midwives experienced challenges in manoeuvring women with mobility disabilities during labour

1.3 Midwives experienced anxiety and the need to exercise patience when caring for women with mobility disabilities

2. Lack of equipment to meet the needs of women with mobility disabilities

2.1 Midwives reported a lack of special beds and infrastructure to meet the needs of women with mobility disabilities

3. Challenges in providing holistic care to women with mobility disabilities during pregnancy, labour and puerperium

3.1 Midwives reported a lack of guidelines and protocols in caring holistically for women with mobility disabilities

3.2 Midwives experienced challenges in allowing significant others to support women with mobility disabilities during labour and delivery