Trudy Klomp1, Judith Manniën2, Ank de Jonge2, Eileen K Hutton3, Antoine L M Lagro-Janssen4. 1. Department of Midwifery Science, AVAG and EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center Amsterdam, Van der Boechorststraat 7, D4-40, 1081 BT Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Electronic address: g.klomp@vumc.nl. 2. Department of Midwifery Science, AVAG and EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center Amsterdam, Van der Boechorststraat 7, D4-40, 1081 BT Amsterdam, the Netherlands. 3. Department of Midwifery Science, AVAG and EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center Amsterdam, Van der Boechorststraat 7, D4-40, 1081 BT Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Midwifery Education Program, McMaster University Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. 4. Department of Primary Care and Community Care, Women's Studies Medicine, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: to investigate factors important to women receiving midwife-led care with regard to their expectations for management of labour pain. DESIGN: semi-structured ante partum interviews and analyses using constant comparison method. PARTICIPANTS: fifteen pregnant women between 36 and 40 weeks gestation receiving midwife-led care. SETTING: five midwifery practices across the Netherlands between June 2009 and July 2010. MAIN OUTCOME: women's expectations regarding management of labour pain. RESULTS: we found three major themes to be important in women's expectations for management of labour pain: preparation, support and control and decision-making. In regards to all these themes, three distinct approaches towards women's planning for pain management in labour were identified: the 'pragmatic natural', the 'deliberately uninformed' and the 'planned pain relief' approach. CONCLUSION: midwives need to recognise that women take different approaches to pain management in labour in order to adapt care to the individual woman.
OBJECTIVE: to investigate factors important to women receiving midwife-led care with regard to their expectations for management of labour pain. DESIGN: semi-structured ante partum interviews and analyses using constant comparison method. PARTICIPANTS: fifteen pregnant women between 36 and 40 weeks gestation receiving midwife-led care. SETTING: five midwifery practices across the Netherlands between June 2009 and July 2010. MAIN OUTCOME: women's expectations regarding management of labour pain. RESULTS: we found three major themes to be important in women's expectations for management of labour pain: preparation, support and control and decision-making. In regards to all these themes, three distinct approaches towards women's planning for pain management in labour were identified: the 'pragmatic natural', the 'deliberately uninformed' and the 'planned pain relief' approach. CONCLUSION: midwives need to recognise that women take different approaches to pain management in labour in order to adapt care to the individual woman.