Li Thies-Lagergren1, Ingegerd Hildingsson, Kyllike Christensson, Linda J Kvist. 1. Department of Women's and Children's Health, Division of Reproductive Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm SE-171 76, Sweden; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Floor 2, Helsingborg Hospital, Helsingborg SE-25187, Sweden. Electronic address: li.thies-lagergren@bjarenet.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Physical benefits are suggested for women and their babies when women adopt an upright position of their choice at birth. Available care options during labour influence women's impressions of what intrapartum care is. This indicates that choice of birth positions may be determined more by midwives than by women's preferences. QUESTION: The aims of this study were to investigate factors associated with adherence to allocated birth position and also to investigate factors associated with decision-making for birth position. METHOD: An invitation to answer an on-line questionnaire was mailed. FINDINGS: Despite being randomised, women who gave birth on the seat were statistically significantly more likely to report that they participated in decision-making and that they took the opportunity to choose their preferred birth position. They also reported statistically significantly more often than non-adherers that they felt powerful, protected and self-confident. CONCLUSIONS: Midwives should be conscious of the potential impact that birth positions have on women's birth experiences and on maternal outcomes. Midwives should encourage women's autonomy by giving unbiased information about the birth seat. An upright birth position may lead to greater childbirth satisfaction. Women's experience of and preferences for birth positions are consistent with current evidence for best practice.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: Physical benefits are suggested for women and their babies when women adopt an upright position of their choice at birth. Available care options during labour influence women's impressions of what intrapartum care is. This indicates that choice of birth positions may be determined more by midwives than by women's preferences. QUESTION: The aims of this study were to investigate factors associated with adherence to allocated birth position and also to investigate factors associated with decision-making for birth position. METHOD: An invitation to answer an on-line questionnaire was mailed. FINDINGS: Despite being randomised, women who gave birth on the seat were statistically significantly more likely to report that they participated in decision-making and that they took the opportunity to choose their preferred birth position. They also reported statistically significantly more often than non-adherers that they felt powerful, protected and self-confident. CONCLUSIONS: Midwives should be conscious of the potential impact that birth positions have on women's birth experiences and on maternal outcomes. Midwives should encourage women's autonomy by giving unbiased information about the birth seat. An upright birth position may lead to greater childbirth satisfaction. Women's experience of and preferences for birth positions are consistent with current evidence for best practice.
Authors: Salvatore Gizzo; Stefania Di Gangi; Marco Noventa; Veronica Bacile; Alessandra Zambon; Giovanni Battista Nardelli Journal: Biomed Res Int Date: 2014-05-15 Impact factor: 3.411