Objective To explore and analyze the lived experiences of pregnant and postpartum women in the process of seeking online health information, with the aim of providing a basis for optimizing health services for pregnant and postpartum women, improving information environment, and enhancing health management capabilities of pregnant and postpartum women. Methods Using purposive sampling method, 16 pregnant and postpartum women were interviewed semi-structurally from November 2024 to February 2025. Based on the thematic analysis method, the data were coded and themes were extracted using Nvivo 12.0 software. Results A total of three themes were distilled: the coexistence of information accessibility and comprehension barriers, the bidirectional experience of security and anxiety brought about by information, and the dual experience of online support and trust conflict. Conclusion Pregnant and postpartum women′s experience in the process of seeking online health information presents complex cha-racteristics of dynamic, contradictory and social intertwining. Healthcare professionals should provide easy-to-understand information through authoritative channels, strengthen maternal online health literacy education, and pay attention to these women′s emotional responses, in an effort to optimize maternal care services and health management.