Washington State Childbearing Women's Experiences of Planned Home Births: A Heideggerian Phenomenological Investigation.

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this interpretive study was to investigate planned home births that occurred in Washington State and to provide meaning. A Heideggerian phenomenological approach was chosen to investigate and interview a purposive sample of 9 childbearing women who experienced at least 1 home birth between 2010 and 2014 in Washington State. The results of this study suggest that childbirth education is an essential and valued aspect of birthing. Childbirth educators can use the findings from this investigation as a means to increase their awareness of birthing in the home. This interpretive investigation can give "voice" to the compelling evidence accumulating that is investigating planned home births as a sanctuary to allow physiological and low-intervention births to transpire.