Research Institute of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, School of Health Sciences, ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Katharina-Sulzer-Platz 9, CH-8401, Winterthur, Switzerland.
BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2023 Mar 18;23(1):191. doi: 10.1186/s12884-023-05453-4.
Childbearing women face the problem of managing spontaneous onset of labour without professional support. It is their responsibility to diagnose and react to early labour and subsequently recognise the right time to seek support. Institutional guidelines of clinics aim to admit childbearing women when in established labour. This explains why women in early labour are often advised to stay at home, which can be overwhelming and dissatisfying. This study aims to understand the self- and clinical management of early labour and care needs of first-time mothers during early labour.
A qualitative approach was used involving four focus group discussions with a total of N = 18 mothers. Included were primiparous women who had given birth at term within the last 6 months and who experienced spontaneous onset of labour. Elective caesarean section or induction of labour were thereby exclusion criteria. The interviews followed a semi-structured, literature-based guide. Content analysis was applied.
Thirteen codes were summarised within three themes: 'self-management', 'care needs' and 'professional management'. Various coping strategies and measures such as positive thinking or taking a bath helped women in managing early labour at home. The need for reassurance, professional guidance and pain management led them to seek professional support, which was initially accompanied by a feeling of inhibition. This negative emotion was mostly unjustified since many women felt well cared for and taken seriously in their needs.
Coping strategies and professional care help women going through early labour. Yet, there still exists insecurity about the justified timing in seeking professional support. An individual assessment of the women's coping resources and their needs is required to promote shared decision making and give high-standard care.
分娩期的女性面临着在没有专业支持的情况下管理自发性分娩的问题。她们有责任诊断和应对早期分娩，并随后认识到寻求支持的适当时机。诊所的机构指南旨在在已建立的分娩时接纳产妇。这就是为什么早期分娩的女性经常被建议留在家里的原因，这可能会让人感到不知所措和不满。本研究旨在了解初产妇在早期分娩期间的自我和临床管理以及对护理的需求。
采用定性方法，共进行了 4 次焦点小组讨论，共有 N=18 名产妇参加。包括最近 6 个月足月分娩且经历自发性分娩的初产妇。因此，选择性剖宫产或引产是排除标准。访谈遵循半结构化、基于文献的指南。应用内容分析。
总结了 13 个代码，分为三个主题：“自我管理”、“护理需求”和“专业管理”。各种应对策略和措施，如积极思考或洗澡，帮助女性在家中管理早期分娩。她们需要得到安慰、专业指导和疼痛管理，从而寻求专业支持，最初伴随着一种抑制感。这种负面情绪大多是没有根据的，因为许多女性感到在她们的需求方面得到了很好的照顾和重视。
应对策略和专业护理有助于女性度过早期分娩期。然而，在寻求专业支持的适当时间方面仍然存在不安全感。需要对女性的应对资源和需求进行个体评估，以促进共同决策并提供高标准的护理。
