Promoting a normal birth and a positive birth experience - Norwegian women's perspectives.

OBJECTIVE

the aim of this study is to gain a deeper understanding of a woman's internal factors and factors in her environment that are important for a normal birth and a positive birth experience.

DESIGN/SETTING: a qualitative approach was selected for data collection, and the data presented are derived from in-depth interviews. Twelve healthy first time Norwegian mothers, aged 22-34, with a normal childbirth and a positive birth experience were interviewed five to six weeks after giving birth. All participants had given birth at a maternity unit, where 4000 births take place per year. The transcribed interviews were analysed through systematic text condensation.

FINDINGS

the findings included two main themes: safe environment and emotional strength. Stability in everyday life and close relationships provided the women with the safe environment they needed. The women had a positive attitude to childbirth and they had all previously developed coping strategies. They highlighted that these acquired coping strategies contributed to higher emotional strength and a positive birth experience.

CONCLUSIONS

the women experienced that a safe environment and network contributed to a sense of trust and emotional strength, which were positive factors promoting a normal birth and a positive birth experience. The women had a positive attitude towards the birth and used acquired coping strategies to deal with it, which in turn led to a positive birth experience. The natural vision the women had in connection with childbirth was part of their antenatal preparation, which also contributed to a positive experience of childbirth.