Diskuze v psychologii 2023, 5(1):17-27 | DOI: 10.5507/dvp.2023.009

What is important to women during childbirth?

Soňa Ondrušová
Křížkovského 10, 779 00 Olomouc, Česká republika

The aim of the study was to find out which factors influence women´s birth experience. A mixed design research was performed using two questionnaires; first questionnaire was filled out by women during pregnancy and the second one by the same women 3-8 weeks postpartum. The qualitative part of the research consisted of one open-ended question about the birth experience. We found that the number of birth interventions (rs = -0.498, p < 0.000), and the amount of obstetric violence (rs = -0.298, p < 0.000) negatively influenced birth satisfaction and skin-to-skin contact after birth positively influenced birth satisfaction (rs = 0.453, p < 0.000). Using thematic analysis, we identified four topics: Course of birth, Objective birth circumstances, Positive aspects of birth and Negative aspects of birth. We can conclude that women wish to give birth naturally with the least possible number of interventions, feeling respected and supported. If the interventions are necessary, it is important that they are explained properly and that women have enough time to make an informed decision.

Keywords: birth; birth satisfaction; obstetric violence; birth interventions; skin to skin contact

Received: February 12, 2023; Revised: July 23, 2023; Accepted: August 30, 2023; Published: March 1, 2024  Show citation

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Ondrušová S. What is important to women during childbirth? Diskuze v psychologii. 2023;5(1):17-27. doi: 10.5507/dvp.2023.009.
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