Abstract
Purpose
The aim of the present study was to clarify the meaning of children's experience of being present at the birth of a younger sibling.
Methods
The study participants were eight pairs of children and their mothers who gave birth to a second or third child in a maternity clinic or at home. The survey of mother-child interactions in the first through fourth stages of labor was conducted using a participant-observer method. The observations made in the delivery setting were confirmed in a semi-structured interview of the mother during the puerperal period. Categories were extracted after interpreting phenomena obtained from settings considered to be significant. While comparing the similarities and differences in each setting, the patterns of the phenomena were arranged and the significance of the childbirth experience of the sibling was derived.
Results
Seven categories were extracted for childbirth experience of the siblings: 1) experience causing swings of various emotions, 2) experience that nurtures a rich sensibility of life and sexuality, 3) experience that raises empathy from participation in childbirth, 4) stressful experience that threatens the self, 5) experience that makes one feel the closeness of others, 6) crisis experience that shakes the mother-child relationship, and 7) experience that builds a new sibling relationship. The categories were broadly divided into those related to internal aspects of the child, and those related to the child's relationships with people around him or her.
Conclusion
Childbirth for the elder siblings was an experience that aroused curiosity and led to an interest in life. However, the childbirth experience also includes critical elements that threaten a child's mental state. For the child to get through this experience and have it be a valuable growth experience, the role of family in supporting the child and the assistance of midwifes are important.
