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- Sjöblom, Ingela, et al.
(författare)
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A provoking choice : Swedish women's experiences of reactions to their plans to give birth at home
- 2012
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Ingår i: Women and birth : journal of the Australian College of Midwives. - : Elsevier BV. - 1878-1799 .- 1871-5192. ; 25:3, s. e11-e18
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: The home birth rate in Sweden is less than 1 in 1000, and home birth is not included within the health care system. This study describes women's experiences concerning reactions to their decision to give birth at home. DESIGN AND SETTING: A nationwide survey (SHE - Swedish Homebirth Experience) in Sweden was conducted between 1992 and 2005 whereas 735 women had given birth to 1038 children. Of 1038 questionnaires 1025 were returned. MEASUREMENTS: In the questionnaires an open-ended question asked women to report their experience of reactions to their decision to give birth at home The question was answered by 594 women, and data were analysed using content analysis. FINDINGS: The analysis yielded one overarching theme; "To be faced with fear for life and death" including being exposed to reactions about risks. This describes attitudes of professionals and family towards life and death and suggests perceptions of risk and fear of unexpected events. Four main categories were identified; Seen as an irresponsible person, Met with emotional arguments, Exposed to persuasion and Alienation. CONCLUSION: Women who plan for a home birth were confronted with negative attitudes and persuasion to make them change their mind. This made them feel alienated, and they searched for support among like-minded. Negative attitudes from health care professionals may erode their confidence in conventional health services and turn them towards other options. IMPLICATION FOR PRACTICE: Women who want to give birth at home should be given evidence-based information about risks and benefits. Enhanced knowledge among public and professionals about home births would improve the options for respectful encounters.
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| 2. |
- Sjöblom, Ingela, et al.
(författare)
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Creating a Safe Haven- Women's Experiences of the Midwife's Professional Skills During Planned Home Birth in Four Nordic Countries
- 2014
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Ingår i: Birth-Issues in Perinatal Care. - : Wiley. - 0730-7659 .- 1523-536X. ; 41:1, s. 100-107
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- ObjectiveThe midwife assisting a birth has a considerable influence on the woman's experience of the birth. The aim of this study was to investigate the experience of the midwife's professional skills among women in Norway, Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden who chose a planned home birth. Design and SettingAll known home birth midwives were asked to inform the mothers about the project and invite them to complete a questionnaire about different aspects of their home birth experience. MethodThe women were asked to assess 10 different aspects of the midwives' professional skills on a 4-graded scale below the main question: What was your experience of the midwife who assisted the labor? Furthermore, the mothers' experiences with the attending midwives were identified in the free text birth stories. The chosen method was a mixed method design. FindingsThe home birth midwives' professional skills were generally high scored. No statistically significant differences were found with respect to the assessment of the midwife. The content analyses yielded one overarching theme: The competence and presence of the midwife creates a safe haven, and three categories, midwife's safe hand, midwife's caring approach, and midwife's peaceful presence. ConclusionWomen choosing a home birth in the four Nordic countries experienced that their midwives were highly skilled and they found the presence of the midwives valuable in helping them to feel safe and confident during birth. Despite differences in organization and guidelines for home births, the women's experience of the midwife's professional skills did not differ between the four countries.
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