University College South Denmark, Degnevej 16, 6705, Esbjerg Ø, Denmark.
University Library of Southern Denmark, Niels Bohrs Vej 9-10, 6700, Esbjerg Ø, Denmark.
J Relig Health. 2021 Feb;60(1):335-353. doi: 10.1007/s10943-020-01106-4. Epub 2020 Oct 29.
Women's reflections on existential meaning-making in relation to giving birth may seem indistinct in maternity services and have not been thoroughly explored in secular contexts. However, research suggests that childbirth accentuates spiritual and existential considerations and needs even in secular contexts highlighting the importance of care for such needs in maternity care practices. The objectives of this study were two-fold: Firstly, to explore how first-time mothers, living in a secular context, experience their first birth in relation to existential meaning-making. Secondly, to describe the relationship between existential meaning-making reflections and gestational week at birth.
A nationwide cross-sectional study in Denmark based on the questionnaire "Faith, existence and motherhood" was conducted in 2011. Eight core items related to birth experience informed this study. The cohort was sampled from the Danish Medical Birth Registry and consisted of 913 mothers having given birth 6-18 months previously. Twenty-eight per cent had given birth preterm (PT) and 72% had given birth at full-term (FT). A total of 517 mothers responded.
In relation to the birth of their first child, both FT and PT mothers answered, that they had existential meaning-making reflections. The consent to the 8 items ranged from 17 to 73% among FT mothers and from 19 to 58% among PT mothers. Mothers who gave birth preterm mainly identified the negative aspects of birth, whereas mothers, who gave birth at full-term, to a higher degree identified positive aspects.
Findings suggest that not only traumatic birth events accentuate existential reflections, but that even normal childbirth to most mothers is an existential event. However, the quality of existential reflections differs when comparing normal and traumatic birth. The study points towards change in education and organization of maternity care to better care for existential needs and reflections specific to every new mother and birthing woman.
女性在生育方面对存在意义的反思在产科学服务中似乎并不明显，而且在世俗环境中也没有得到彻底探讨。然而，研究表明，即使在世俗环境中，分娩也会强调精神和存在方面的考虑和需求，这突显了在产科学实践中照顾这些需求的重要性。本研究的目的有两个：首先，探讨生活在世俗环境中的初产妇如何体验她们的第一次分娩与存在意义的关系。其次，描述存在意义的反思与出生时孕周之间的关系。
这是一项在丹麦进行的全国性横断面研究，基于问卷“信仰、存在和母亲身份”，于 2011 年开展。与分娩经历相关的 8 个核心项目为本研究提供了信息。该队列是从丹麦医疗出生登记处抽取的，由 913 名过去 6-18 个月分娩的母亲组成。28%的母亲早产（PT），72%的母亲足月（FT）分娩。共有 517 名母亲做出回应。
FT 和 PT 母亲均表示，在她们第一个孩子的出生过程中，她们有存在意义的反思。对这 8 个项目的同意率，FT 母亲为 17-73%，PT 母亲为 19-58%。PT 分娩的母亲主要关注分娩的负面方面，而 FT 分娩的母亲则更关注积极方面。
研究结果表明，不仅创伤性分娩事件会突出存在意义的反思，而且对大多数母亲来说，正常分娩也是一个存在事件。然而，正常分娩和创伤性分娩之间的存在意义反思质量存在差异。该研究指出，需要改变产科护理的教育和组织，以更好地照顾每一位新母亲和产妇的存在需求和反思。
