‘You've got it within you’: The political act of keeping a wellness focus in the antenatal time

Maternal Confidence for Physiologic Childbirth: A Concept Analysis

“…Women expressed a desire to have continuity in care throughout their pregnancy, and their confidence was enhanced when that care extended to the labor and birth setting. Midwives also agreed that a continuity model was the gold standard and facilitated the midwife‐woman relationship, centering the woman and the normalcy of pregnancy and thereby decreasing anxiety …”

“…Communication and shared decision making are also antecedents of maternal confidence for physiologic birth . Feeling listened to and informed, especially if conditions changed, were of utmost importance .…”

“…Leap et al found that women connected their developing confidence with the way their midwives shared information and discussed choices . Midwives in another study reported that, although time constraints could be a barrier, creating a space in which women felt free to ask questions and felt listened to increased women's empowerment regarding decision making . Alternately, feeling not listened to or not acknowledged, or feeling that they did not have control, led women to feel more fear or anxiety .…”

“…A trusted relationship with a maternity care provider played a significant role in the development of maternal confidence for birth . Women with confidence for home birth described confidence in their midwives and the development of a close, trusting relationship that included respect, answering questions with ease, and a positive approach to birth .…”

“…Along with a trusting relationship with a maternity care provider, continuity of care played a significant role in the development of women's confidence for physiologic birth . Women expressed a desire to have continuity in care throughout their pregnancy, and their confidence was enhanced when that care extended to the labor and birth setting.…”