Abstract
Background : One percent of the total number of childbirths in Japan takes place at maternity homes or at the expecting mothers’ homes and are attended by midwives. As a solution to one of the issues in perinatal care, that is, the shortage of obstetricians, the independent midwives’ service that support “normal deliveries” has been receiving renewed attention.
Purpose : The purpose of the study is to elucidate the experience of opening and operating a maternity home from the perspective of the person who opened it.
Methods : Five managers of maternity homes who either opened their own maternity homes or expanded their maternity services during the period 2003—2006 were interviewed.
Results : By opening their own maternity homes, the midwives were able to provide the care that they had pursued, while also being relieved from a conflict-torn situation in which they were obliged to provide care that was unsatisfactory to them. The midwives expanded their services in stages corresponding to their family lives. As a member of the community where they live, they have been accepted by the people. The expansion of the business was a decision for their professional life that required special determination. With regard to maternity homes equipped with beds, the persistent issues are the initial funding and surviving in the business.
Conclusion : By establishing and managing their own maternity homes, midwives were able to provide comprehensive perinatal care that was impossible to offer while they were working at hospitals, including services for the entire course of pregnancy to delivery and post-delivery. They gained trust from the society and expanded their business in stages corresponding to their family lives.
