The emotional journey of labour-Women's perspectives of the experience of labour moving towards birth

Dixon, L; Skinner, J; Foureur, M

The emotional journey of labour-Women's perspectives of the experience of labour moving towards birth

Dixon, L Skinner, J Foureur, M

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Midwifery, 2014, 30 (3), pp. 371 - 377
Issue Date:: 2014-03-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Dixon, L	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Skinner, J	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Foureur, M https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0454-0165	en_US
dc.date.available	2013-03-29	en_US
dc.date.issued	2014-03-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Midwifery, 2014, 30 (3), pp. 371 - 377	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	0266-6138	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/30429
dc.description.abstract	Background: there has been minimal exploration of women's emotional flow during labour and towards birth. This research aimed to capture woman's remembered experiences of this process. Method: a critical feminist standpoint methodology guided this research which used in depth interviews to explore the perspectives of 18 women who had experienced a spontaneous labour and birth. These women all had continuity of care from a known midwife. Findings: women described labour and birth in terms of their emotions. These emotions flowed from excitement at the beginning, to calm as they waited for the labour to strengthen. This waiting time was variable in length and the women were often able to continue with many aspects of normal life. As the labour intensified women described moving into a 'zone' of timelessness and spacelessness; a time of letting go of control. The external world was shut out. Some women described feeling overwhelmed as the birth approached, others felt intensely tired. During the birth the women returned to a state of alertness. Some described shock or disbelief. They were surprised at how effectively their body had worked and taken them through labour. Conclusion and implication for practice: women described labour as defined by their emotions. The feelings described were linear and consistent and may be an indication of normal labour and birth physiology. These descriptions may be helpful when supporting women during labour and birth. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Midwifery	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.midw.2013.03.009	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Nursing	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Humans	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Delivery, Obstetric	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Mothers	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Midwifery	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Pregnancy	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Labor, Obstetric	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Patient Satisfaction	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	New Zealand	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Female	en_US
dc.title	The emotional journey of labour-Women's perspectives of the experience of labour moving towards birth	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	3	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	30	en_US
utslib.for	111006 Midwifery	en_US
utslib.for	1110 Nursing	en_US
utslib.for	1114 Paediatrics and Reproductive Medicine	en_US
utslib.for	1117 Public Health and Health Services	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Midwifery
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHSP - Health Services and Practice
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.issue	3	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	30	en_US

Abstract:

Background: there has been minimal exploration of women's emotional flow during labour and towards birth. This research aimed to capture woman's remembered experiences of this process. Method: a critical feminist standpoint methodology guided this research which used in depth interviews to explore the perspectives of 18 women who had experienced a spontaneous labour and birth. These women all had continuity of care from a known midwife. Findings: women described labour and birth in terms of their emotions. These emotions flowed from excitement at the beginning, to calm as they waited for the labour to strengthen. This waiting time was variable in length and the women were often able to continue with many aspects of normal life. As the labour intensified women described moving into a 'zone' of timelessness and spacelessness; a time of letting go of control. The external world was shut out. Some women described feeling overwhelmed as the birth approached, others felt intensely tired. During the birth the women returned to a state of alertness. Some described shock or disbelief. They were surprised at how effectively their body had worked and taken them through labour. Conclusion and implication for practice: women described labour as defined by their emotions. The feelings described were linear and consistent and may be an indication of normal labour and birth physiology. These descriptions may be helpful when supporting women during labour and birth. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/30429