Birth environment facilitation by midwives assisting in non-hospital births: A qualitative interview study

作者：Igarashi Toshiko^*; Wakita Mariko; Miyazaki Kikuko; Nakayama Takeo

来源：Midwifery, 2014, 30(7): 877-884.

DOI：10.1016/j.midw.2014.02.004

• Midwifery
• Natural childbirth
• Environment
• Qualitative research

Objective: midwifery homes (similar to birth centres) are rich in midwifery wisdom and skills that differ Irons those in hospital obstetrical departments, and a certain percentage of pregnant women prefer birth in these settings. This study aimed to understand the organisation of the perinatal environment considered important by independent midwives in non-hospital settings and to clarify the processes involved.
Design: semi-structured qualitative interview study and constant comparative analysis.
Participants: 14 independent midwives assisting at births in midwifery homes in japan, and six independent midwives assisting at home births.
Setting: Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, and Shiga, japan.
Findings: midwives assisting at non-hospital births organised the birth environment based on the following four categories: 'an environment where the mother and family are autonomous': 'a physical environment that facilitates birth': 'an environment that facilitates the movement of the mother for birth': and 'scrupulous safety preparation'. These, along with their sub-categories, are presented in this paper
Key conclusions: independent midwives considered it important to create a candid relationship between the midwife and the woman/family from the period of pregnancy to facilitate birth in which the woman and her family were autonomous. They also organised a distinctive environment for non-hospital birth, with preparations to guarantee safety. Experiential knowledge and skills played a major part in creating an environment to facilitate birth, and the effectiveness of this needs to be investigated objectively in future research.

• 出版日期2014-7