Long-term memories and experiences of childbirth in a Nordic context—a secondary analysis

Abstract

The experience of childbirth is an important life experience for women. However, in-depth knowledge about long-term experiences is limited. The aim of the study was to describe women's experiences two to 20 years after birth. This study is a part of a meta-synthesis project about childbearing in the Nordic countries. Methodologically, the study was a secondary analysis performed on original data from three selected qualitative studies by the authors, in three Nordic countries, Finland, Iceland and Sweden, and in two different forms of care, birth centre care and standard maternity care. There were 29 participants, both primipara and multiparous women. The result from this study shows that women, in a long-term perspective describe childbirth as an encounter with different participants and the most important is with the midwife. The midwife is also important in connection to the atmosphere experienced during birth. The childbirth experience has a potential to strengthen self-confidence and trust in others or, on the contrary, it can mean failure or distrust. Impersonal encounters linger feelings of being abandoned and alone. This dimension is in particular demonstrated in the description of the woman who had given birth at standard maternity care. The conclusion of this study is that childbirth experience has a potential to strengthen self-confidence and trust in others or on the contrary failure or distrust. Maternity care should be organized in a way that emphasis this aspects of care.

Satisfaction with childbirth services provided in public health facilities: results from a cross- sectional survey among postnatal women in Chhattisgarh, India

“…As CHCs tend to have significantly less childbirth-load, we interpreted that women in those facilities had better opportunities to receive care in a less crowded labour room with more attention given by the care providers. Studies from other countries also describe that crowded and busy labour rooms tend to have a negative impact on women’s birth experiences [60,61]. …”

Fathers’ Feelings and Experiences during Pregnancy and Childbirth: A Qualitative Study

“…A more secure father may increase the chances of a more secure woman, which could facilitate childbirth and create a positive childbirth experience. The woman's sense of security is important to create a positive childbirth experience for her [25,26].…”

Women’s preferences for childbirth experiences in the Republic of Ireland; a mixed methods study

“…The childbirth experience has been long recognised as a life-altering event. It has been found to have a powerful lasting potential to enhance or detract from women’s feelings of self-confidence and these feelings often last a lifetime [3, 4]. In Ireland, there is a dearth of research on women’s views about important elements of their childbirth experiences.…”