Swedish women's experience of childbirth 2 years after birth
Introduction
The experience of childbirth is an important life experience for women, and their long-term memories are generally accurate compared with statements shortly after birth (Simkin, 1991, Simkin, 1992). However, according to Waldenström (2004), more negative aspects may take longer to integrate. Women′s overall experiences are an important outcome of labour (Waldenström, 2003). The quality of these experiences affects the future well-being of the woman, the baby, and the relationship between mother and child (Lagerkrantz, 1979; Oakley, 1983; Green et al., 1990; Morris-Thompson, 1992); it also affects the relationship between the woman and her partner (Brudal, 1985). Features, such as pregnancy-related factors, complications, expectations, pain, the form of organisational care, and support, all influence women's experience of childbirth (Lundgren, 2002). All in all, the most pivotal factor for a positive childbirth experience is support (Hodnett, 1999; Lavender et al., 1999; Waldenström, 1999). Thereby, the dimension of caring (Kennedy, 2000) and ‘being with women’ (e.g. the provision of emotional, physical, spiritual and psychological presence) should be central concepts for midwifery (Hunter, 2002). A form of organisation that emphasises support from midwives is alternative birth centre (ABC) care, which provides continuity of care, restriction of medical technology, parental responsibility and self-care (Waldenström, 1993; Waldenström, 1998). Two such centres have been established in Sweden since the late 1980s. Antenatal care was not provided in the ABC centre in Göteborg; instead, a preparatory visit before the delivery was integrated into the service. However, as a research project, women were given the opportunity to receive antenatal care at the unit between 1996 and 1997.
To summarise, several studies have described women's experiences of childbirth shortly after the birth. However, in-depth knowledge about women's long-term experiences is limited. The aim of the study reported here was to describe women's experiences of childbirth 2 years after the birth.
Section snippets
Methods
To be able to describe women's long-term experiences of childbirth, the research must enter deeply into this experience. This is possible using a phenomenological method, based on a life-world approach (Dahlberg et al., 2001). Emphasis is placed on the phenomenal field (Merleau-Ponty, 1995). The purpose of phenomenological research is to describe phenomena as they are lived and experienced by individuals. The phenomenological analysis seeks to uncover the meaning of humanly experienced
Sample
The sample consisted of 10 women who had received antenatal care at the ABC centre, Sahlgrenska Hospital, between 1996 and 1997. Five of the women were primiparous, two had had their second baby, two their third and one her fourth. Seven of the women gave birth at the ABC centre, and three at the standard delivery ward. Two primiparous women were transferred to the standard delivery ward during delivery because of prolonged labour. One of the multiparous women did not give birth at the ABC
Discussion
This study was undertaken with a small group of women who had received care at one ABC centre in Sweden. We cannot claim that the women in this study are representative of all women using birth centre care, let alone all women giving birth in Sweden. However, there are some lessons that can be learned from these findings.
The main finding from this study was that the women described childbirth as an unavoidable situation, which demands control and loss of control. To give birth involves
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2020, MidwiferyCitation Excerpt :She is non-judgmental, interested in others and flexible in care. She listens actively and identifies the physical, psychological, cultural and social needs and preferences of the woman, recognising the level and type of support each woman needs and tailoring her care accordingly (Beake et al., 2005; Borrelli et al., 2016; Dickson, 1997; Feeley and Thomson, 2016; Halldorsdottir and Karlsdottir, 2011; Hermansson and Martensson, 2011; Lundgren, 2005; Lundgren and Berg, 2007; Mattern et al., 2017; Renfrew et al., 2015; Thompson et al., 1989). ‘It was important that the midwife considered the woman's uniqueness and vulnerability, and took her worries seriously whatever they were.’ (