Title
Women's positions during the second stage of labour: Views of primary care midwives
Author
de Jonge, A.
Teunissen, D.A.M.
van Diem, M.T.
Scheepers, P.L.H.
Lagro-Janssen, A.L.M.
TNO Kwaliteit van Leven
Publication year
2008
Abstract
Aim. This paper is a report of a study to explore the views of midwives on women's positions during the second stage of labour. Background. Many authors recommend encouraging women to use positions that are most comfortable to them. Others advocate encouragement of non-supine positions, because offering 'choice' is not enough to reverse the strong cultural norm of giving birth in the supine position. Midwives' views on women's positions have rarely been explored. Method. Six focus groups were conducted in 2006-2007 with a purposive sample of 31 midwives. The data were interpreted using Thachuk's models of informed consent and informed choice. Findings. The models were useful in distinguishing between two different approaches of midwives to women's positions during labour. When giving informed consent, midwives implicitly or explicitly ask a woman's consent for what they themselves prefer. When offering informed choice, a woman's preference is the starting point, but midwives will suggest other options if this is in the woman's interest. Obstetric factors and working conditions are reasons to deviate from women's preferences. Conclusions. To give women an informed choice about birthing positions, midwives need to give them information during pregnancy and discuss their position preferences. Women should be prepared for the unpredictability of their feelings in labour and for obstetric factors that may interfere with their choice of position. Equipment for non-supine births should be more midwife-friendly. In addition, midwives and students need to be able to gain experience in assisting births in non-supine positions. © 2008 The Authors.
Subject
Health
Jeugd en Gezondheid
Birthing positions
Empirical research report
Focus groups
Informed choice
Labour
Midwives
Primary care
Body posture
Decision making
Health personnel attitude
Health service
Human
Information processing
Labor stage 2
Nurse patient relationship
Patient attitude
Psychological aspect
Standard
Adult
Attitude of Health Personnel
Decision Making
Female
Focus Groups
Humans
Informed Consent
Labor Stage, Second
Maternal Health Services
Middle Aged
Netherlands
Nurse-Patient Relations
Patient Acceptance of Health Care
Patient Satisfaction
Posture
Pregnancy
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DOI
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2008.04703.x
TNO identifier
240941
ISSN
0309-2402
Source
Journal of Advanced Nursing, 63 (4), 347-356
Document type
article