Article
Giving birth: expectations and experiences of first time mothers in Switzerland. A qualitative, longitudinal study
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Authors
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Valerie Fleming
- ZHAW Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften, Institut für Hebammen, Winterthur, Switzerland
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Franziska Parpan
- ZHAW Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften, Institut für Hebammen, Winterthur, Switzerland
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Susanne van Gogh
- ZHAW Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften, Institut für Hebammen, Winterthur, Switzerland
| Published: | February 5, 2016 |
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Outline
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Context: This study is being carried out in the context of a rising caesarean section rate, the apparent desire of women for elective caesarean and increasing costs of care. While there is much speculation about presumed expectations of first time mothers, little is known about the experiences they really have. Therefore it is important to gather insights about the personal views of their experiences.
No well carried out longitudinal studies have been published in Switzerland which identify women’s changing expectations during and after pregnancy.
Aim: To develop a model of the emerging expectations of giving birth and the subsequent experiences of healthy first time mothers in Switzerland. Subsequently a questionnaire could be developed which has the potential to be the foundation for a national epidemiological study.
Method: This qualitative and longitudinal study follows the hermeneutic philosophy of Gadamer [1] and the hermeneutic method derived from it by Fleming et al. [2].
75 healthy first time mothers from three different language regions in Switzerland will be recruited and take part in four guided conversations at approximately 20 and 34 weeks of pregnancy, six to eight weeks and six months postpartum. Data will be transcribed ad verbatim followed by text analysis.
Results: On the grounds of the analysis of the antenatal conversations expectations of first time mothers concerning birth appear in its chronological development. Focusing on these interviews key themes will be identified.
Relevance: High caesarean section rates as well as rising costs in the health system are relevant and topical themes in obstetrics and society. The separate stages of the project offer the opportunity to see through the eyes of the mothers the clinical work of midwives, doctors and other health professionals in a different light. Results will provide insights of the relationship between clinical practice and the emergent themes.
Conclusions: Results of the antenatal interviews with first time mothers allow discussion on the apparent desire of women for elective caesarean and on possible claims on too many or too costly care offers. Further conclusions will be derived from the key themes emerging from the interviews.
Ethics: The study was presented to the various ethical committees of the relevant cantons in Switzerland and was approved of by all of them.
