Women's labor pains in natural childbirth

Abstract

Objective

In this study, we aimed to describe women's experiences of labor pains during natural childbirth.

Study Participants and Method

This study involved qualitative and descriptive research based on Merleau-Ponty's phenomenological philosophy. The study participants were 9 women at six weeks after natural childbirth. Data were collected through non-structured interviews and analyzed with reference to the steps in Pollio's approach to phenomenology.

Results

We identified the following five elements as a framework for women's experiences of labor pains in natural childbirth: “realization”, “acceptance”, “battling”, “sharing”, and “comparison”.

“Realization” was experienced by mothers who realized that their labor pains had started from the duration of their perceived physical pain and the consistency of that pain with their pre-existing knowledge of labor pains.

“Acceptance” was experienced by mothers who accepted the phenomenon of labor pains in their own way, having recognized the significance and necessity of labor pains in the childbirth process.

“Battling” was experienced by mothers who questioned whether or not they could control themselves at a critical moment in a state of severe labor pains.

“Sharing” was experienced by mothers who felt labor pains were eased, mitigated, or otherwise made tolerable as a result of contact with others.

“Comparison” was experienced by mothers with recollections linked to feeling that their recent labor pains were better or worse than previous labor pains or some other previous pain, or were better or worse than their previous knowledge had indicated.

Conclusion

Midwives supporting women in labor should understand the individual context in which a mother experiences labor pains, respect the intuition that mothers have about their labor pains, and build relationships of trust with the mothers while fostering such relationships between the mother and other people around her.