Looking back on birth three years later: Factors associated with a negative appraisal in England and in the Netherlands

South African Mothers’ Coping With an Unplanned Caesarean Section

“…Many women enter labor with particular anticipations of the birth, and it has been shown that whether or not expectations are met, women still consider them to be important after delivery (Lavender, Walkinshaw, & Walton, 1999;Roux & van Rensburg, 2011). It has been suggested that forming a positive appraisal of birth depends on how well events have lived up to expectations; studies have shown that when such expectations are fulfilled, women report higher levels of satisfaction (Baston et al, 2008;Hauck, Fenwick, Downie, & Butt, 2007;Tulman & Fawcett, 2003). Roux and van Rensburg (2011) found that an unplanned Caesarean section was described as a distressing, difficult, and disappointing experience for women, one that confronted mothers with considerable adjustment difficulties.…”

“…Many studies have identified the contribution of supportive care to a positive evaluation of the birth (Baston et al, 2008;Hauck et al, 2007;Waldenström, 2004). The most important source of support and encouragement for women came from their husbands.…”

“…These factors influence how an individual perceives, frames, evaluates, interprets, and is affected by an event (Strumpfer, 2005). For new mothers, this may account for some of the individual variation in post-Caesarean psychological outcomes (Baston, Rijnders, Green, & Buitendijk, 2008;Clement, 2001). A woman's attitude toward birth, her expectations, and her personal and subjective attributed meaning to giving birth could affect her feelings of satisfaction, strength, esteem, and achievement (Gibbons & Thomson, 2001).…”

Vivência do parto normal ou cesáreo: revisão integrativa sobre a percepção de mulheres

“…18 These negative perceptions regarding vaginal birth were described by women: loneliness, grief and abandonment, [14][15][16][17][18] sometimes associated with the absence of a birthing partner as insisted on by the institution. 18 Dissatisfaction with the experience of childbirth is also associated with lack of attention on the part of the team, 15,[17][18]22,25 complications with the baby, 15,22 prolonged 11,15,17 or difficult delivery, 15,[17][18]25 little or no control over labor by the parturient, frequent vaginal examinations, limitations of movement 25 and the sharing of rooms with other women experiencing negative vaginal labors, further increasing their anxiety levels. 18,25 The assistance provided by healthcare professionals during labor and birth, mostly in vaginal birth experiences, is characterized by an impersonal relationship in which professionals are distanced from the patient, 14.16 relations are unequal based on non-verbal communication, and technical terms are used that make it difficult for the women to understand information and instructions.…”

“…24 Women who had a cesarean section by choice or in an emergency were more unhappy when remembering the birth of their children. 12,22 General perceptions about vaginal birth and cesarean section A common feature in the experience of both vaginal birth and cesarean section was the lack of information about these events in order to experience the childbirth safely and with selfdetermination. 24 Women felt uninformed about the evolution of labor, the performance of exams, medicines received and the health conditions of their babies.…”