A prospective study of women's views of factors contributing to a positive birth experience.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To explore the aspects of a woman's childbirth experience which she perceived as being important. DESIGN: As part of a large randomised trial, which assessed the timing of intervention in prolonged labour, women's views were explored using a specifically-designed questionnaire. The questionnaire, which was administered on the second postnatal day, incorporated a rating scale followed by an open question. The responses to the open question are presented in this paper. SETTING: Regional teaching hospital in the north west of England. SAMPLE 615 primigravid women received a copy of the questionnaire. Of the 519 women who returned the questionnaire, 412 women answered the relevant section, the findings of which are presented in this paper. ANALYSIS: The responses to the open-ended question were analysed by the generation of themes from the most frequently occurring responses. MAIN FINDINGS: The main themes which emerged were support, information, intervention, decision making, control, pain relief and trial participation. KEY CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE Most women are able to identify important contributors to a positive intrapartum experience. Midwives have an important role in identifying these contributors and supporting women to fulfil their individual needs.