Women's perceptions of birth plans

Whitford, Heather; Hillan, Edith

doi:10.1016/s0266-6138(98)90097-3

Cited by 46 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…However, according to our studies there were no difference between the intervention group and the standard group concerning control during childbirth. Whitford and Hillan (1998) also verify that birth plans do not improve women's sense of control during childbirth.…”

Section: There Are Some People Who Reveal Themselves As Present…when mentioning

confidence: 69%

“…Although birth plans have been introduced to help woman to an improved experience of childbirth, the numbers of studies that evaluate the effect of birth plans are limited. Whitford and Hillan (1998) found that even if the use of a birth plan did not affect the degree of control felt by women, most women found that the process of completion of a birth plan valuable. However, according to Too (1996a) some women prefer midwives to exercise control and decision making, and a birth plan may offer meaningless choices for the woman.…”

Section: Ideas On Pregnancy and Childbirth Todaymentioning

confidence: 97%

“…A birth plan allowing options to be considered in advance and choices to be made about some of the contingencies that might happen during childbirth (Kitzinger 1988, Kitzinger 1983). It may take a variety of formats: a list of things which might occur during labour which the woman ticks as acceptable, a list with 'yes' or 'no' options, or a more open format with headings as prompts (Whitford & Hillan 1998). Although birth plans have been introduced to help woman to an improved experience of childbirth, the numbers of studies that evaluate the effect of birth plans are limited.…”

Section: Ideas On Pregnancy and Childbirth Todaymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Releasing and relieving encounters: experiences of pregnancy and childbirth

Lundgren

2004

Scandinavian Caring Sciences

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The experience of childbirth is an important life event for women, which may follow them throughout life. The overall aim of this thesis has been to describe and analyse these experiences from the women's perspective as well as the encounter between the woman and the midwife, and the possibility that a birth plan might improve women's experience of childbirth. The setting has been the ABC-centre (Alternative Birth Care), antenatal clinics and Sahlgrenska University hospital in Göteborg, and Karolinska hospital in Stockholm, Sweden. The studies have used both qualitative (phenomenological and hermeneutic) and quantitative approaches. The essential structure of the experiences of pregnancy and childbirth may be conceptualised under the heading 'releasing and relieving encounters', which for the woman constitutes an encounter with herself as well as with the midwife, and includes stillness as well as change. Stillness is expressed as being in the moment; exemplified as presence and being one's body. Change is expressed as transition; to the unknown and to motherhood. In the releasing and relieving encounter, for the midwife stillness and change equals being both anchored and a companion. To be a companion is to be an available person that listens to and follows the woman through the process of childbirth. To be anchored is to be the person that in the transition process respects the limits of the woman's ability as well as her own professional limits. The 'releasing and relieving encounter' is not improved for women by a birth plan. Instead, in some aspects, the relationship between the woman and her midwife during childbirth is reported as less satisfactory if preceded by a birth plan although some experiences of fear, pain and concerns for the child might be improved.

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Section: There Are Some People Who Reveal Themselves As Present…when mentioning

confidence: 69%

Section: Ideas On Pregnancy and Childbirth Todaymentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Ideas On Pregnancy and Childbirth Todaymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Releasing and relieving encounters: experiences of pregnancy and childbirth

Lundgren

2004

Scandinavian Caring Sciences

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“…I say ‘informally’ because the woman as patient never officially loses her status as decision maker—that is, she is not judged to lack capacity, she is simply ignored or over-ridden in sometimes quite important decisions. One study found mixed results as to whether women found the birth plan helpful in maintaining control during labour 8. This problem is related to the concern of this paper in that it is in part the overwhelming physiological process of labour that renders women susceptible to this ‘power grab’ on labour and delivery suites.…”

mentioning

confidence: 93%

The Ulysses contract in obstetrics: a woman's choices before and during labour

Burcher

2012

J Med Ethics

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Women recognise that labour represents a mind-altering event that may affect their ability to make and communicate decisions and choices. For this reason, birth plans and other pre-labour directives can represent a form of Ulysses contract: an attempt to make binding choices before the sometimes overwhelming circumstances of labour. These choices need to be respected during labour, but despite the reduced decisional and communicative capacity of a labouring woman, her choices, when clear, should supersede decisions made before labour.

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“…Birth plans may be a list of procedures (music playing, support person, freedom to eat or drink, freedom of movement, continuous fetal monitoring, take a shower, massage, breathing techniques, epidural, enemas, intravenous (IV) fluid, type of anaesthesia, episiotomy, start of breastfeeding, childbirth position,…) that might take place during labour and childbirth, to which women can give yes–no answers, or some open‐ended questions in reply to which pregnant women can present their preferences (Anderson et al, ; Moore & Hopper, ; Whitford & Hillan, ; Yam, Grossman, Goldman, & Garcia, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of birth plans on childbirth experience: A systematic review

Mirghafourvand

Mohammad‐Alizadeh‐Charandabi

Ghanbari‐Homayi

et al. 2019

Int J of Nursing Practice

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Aim The birth plans were developed as an approach for pregnant women to present their expectations for labour and childbirth. The aim of this study was to assess whether birth plans (a written document in which pregnant women describe preferences about their care during labour and childbearing) compared with standard or routine approach (supine position, continuous fetal monitoring, enema, episiotomy) affect the birth experience (woman's perception of labour and childbirth as positive or negative experience) or satisfaction with birth. Methods This systematic review was performed by searching several databases, including Cochrane Library, Web of Science, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Scopus, PsycINFO, ACP Journal Club, Google Scholar, and Persian databases (SID, Magiran, and Barakat) up to February 10, 2018. Results By searching the databases, 1006 published articles were found, of which 480 and 114 articles were excluded by review of the titles and the abstracts, respectively. Finally, we included three clinical trials (1132 women) in the review. The results of two study showed that the mean score of birth experience in the birth plan group was significantly higher than the control group (P ≤ 0.01). However, the results of a study showed that there were no statistically significant differences between birth plan and control groups (P > 0.05). Quality of included studies was very low. Conclusions There is not enough evidence to support or refute that birth plan can improve the birth experience or satisfaction with birth.

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Women's perceptions of birth plans

Cited by 46 publications

References 8 publications

Releasing and relieving encounters: experiences of pregnancy and childbirth

Releasing and relieving encounters: experiences of pregnancy and childbirth

The Ulysses contract in obstetrics: a woman's choices before and during labour

Effect of birth plans on childbirth experience: A systematic review

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