'Nesting' and 'Matrescence' as distinctive features of a free-standing birth centre in the UK.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the culture, beliefs, values, customs and practices around the birth process within a free-standing birth centre (FSBC).

DESIGN

Ethnography.

SETTING

A birth centre situated in the midlands of England.

PARTICIPANTS

Women attending the centre, midwives and maternity-care assistants (MCAs) working at the centre.

FINDINGS

Women in the study seemed to invoke intuitive nesting-related behaviours in their assessment of the suitability of the birth centre. In addition, the birth centre staff's focus on creating the right ambience for birth may also emanate from nesting concerns. Birth-centre staff assisted women through the 'becoming mother' transition, which is conceptualised as 'matrescent' care.

KEY CONCLUSIONS

The birth-centre environment elicited nesting-like behaviours from both women and staff. This formed part of a nurturing orientation that was conceptualised as 'matrescent' (becoming mother) care. 'Matrescence' does not seem to be grounded in clinical skills but is relationally mediated.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Nesting-like behaviours and 'matrescent' care in this context challenge maternity services to review traditional conceptualisations of safety and traditional expressions of clinical intrapartum care.