Trusting enough to be out of control: a pilot study of women's sense of self during childbirth.

The findings of a pilot study undertaken to determine what features of childbirth have a positive effect on women's sense of self are presented in this paper. This research contrasted the midwifery and medical models of maternity care using feminist constructivism, personal narrative and a thematic analysis. Using theory that is strongly grounded in empirical data, this paper outlines the influence of features inherent in the woman's experience of childbirth that have been theoretically linked to how women feel about themselves. Primary focus was given to the internal characteristics that enable the woman to feel positive about herself during labour, birth and afterwards. The importance of the woman releasing mind control and allowing herself to move into an altered conscious state during labour is discussed in terms of women's subsequent enhanced sense of self. Results illustrate how women are more likely to trust enough to let go of mind control and release control of their bodies when supported within a midwifery model rather than when cared for in the medical model.