Abstract
The purpose of this qualitative study was to comprehend the characteristics of the care of childbirth made by expert midwives assisting in first stage of labor. The participants of this study were four expert midwives who have more than 1,000 cases of deliveries over the last 20 years. This study analyzed nine cases which these midwives assisted. The data were collected by observing the midwife is practice and by conducting a semi-structured interview with her afterward. Consents from the midwife's, childbearing women and their families were obtained before hand. Data analysis revealed five categories which the midwives utilized for their the care of childbirth. And subcategory of the category and twelve included in it has been extracted.; 1) care of childbirth at makes the best use of feature reaction in passage, 2) care of gotten in balance of the entire body, 3) care of childbirth to which natural flow is esteemed, 4) care of produces birth of family, and 5) care of expecting power from the laboring woman. They composed the midwives' practical knowledge as a whole. The midwives make care of childbirth based on their own beliefs regarding natural childbearing, own senses acquired through long experience, outstanding ability to assess situation, and own practical knowledge mingled with their own criterion.
