Hanna Ulfsdottir1, Sissel Saltvedt2, Marie Ekborn3, Susanne Georgsson4. 1. Department of Clinical Science and Education, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm Sweden, Sophiahemmet University, Box 5605, SE-114 86, Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address: hanna.ulfsdottir@shh.se. 2. Department of, Stockholm Sweden. 3. Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, SE-141 86, Stockholm, Sweden. 4. Department of Clinical Science Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm Sweden, Sophiahemmet University, Box 5605, SE-114 86, Stockholm, Sweden, Head of University Department.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To describe women´s experiences and perceptions of giving birth in water. DESIGN: A qualitative study with in-depth interviews three to five months after the birth. A content analysis of the interviews was made. SETTING: One city-located hospital in Stockholm, offering waterbirth to low risk women. PARTICIPANTS: 20 women, 12 primiparas and 8 multiparas, aged 27-39. MEASUREMENTS AND FINDINGS: The overall theme emerging from the analysis was, "Like an empowering micro-home", which describes the effect of being strengthened, enabled and authorized in the birth process. Three categories were found: "Synergy between body and mind", "Privacy and discretion", and "Natural and pleasant". KEY CONCLUSIONS: The immersion in warm water provided the women with conditions that helped them to cope and feel confident during labour and birth. The homelike and limited space of a bathtub helped give a relaxed feeling of privacy, safety, control and focus for the women. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: This study contributes to a deeper understanding of what waterbirth offers to women. For some women, waterbirth may be a way to accomplish an empowering and positive birth experience, and could work as a tool that preserves the normality of, and increases self-efficacy in, childbirth.
OBJECTIVE: To describe women´s experiences and perceptions of giving birth in water. DESIGN: A qualitative study with in-depth interviews three to five months after the birth. A content analysis of the interviews was made. SETTING: One city-located hospital in Stockholm, offering waterbirth to low risk women. PARTICIPANTS: 20 women, 12 primiparas and 8 multiparas, aged 27-39. MEASUREMENTS AND FINDINGS: The overall theme emerging from the analysis was, "Like an empowering micro-home", which describes the effect of being strengthened, enabled and authorized in the birth process. Three categories were found: "Synergy between body and mind", "Privacy and discretion", and "Natural and pleasant". KEY CONCLUSIONS: The immersion in warm water provided the women with conditions that helped them to cope and feel confident during labour and birth. The homelike and limited space of a bathtub helped give a relaxed feeling of privacy, safety, control and focus for the women. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: This study contributes to a deeper understanding of what waterbirth offers to women. For some women, waterbirth may be a way to accomplish an empowering and positive birth experience, and could work as a tool that preserves the normality of, and increases self-efficacy in, childbirth.
Authors: Sarah Milosevic; Sue Channon; Billie Hunter; Mary Nolan; Jacqueline Hughes; Christian Barlow; Rebecca Milton; Julia Sanders Journal: Midwifery Date: 2019-10-05 Impact factor: 2.372
Authors: H Aughey; J Jardine; N Moitt; K Fearon; J Hawdon; D Pasupathy; I Urganci; T Harris Journal: BMC Pregnancy Childbirth Date: 2021-03-26 Impact factor: 3.007