Birthing Experiences of Women Who Panic During Labor

Analysis of Their Expression and Factors Causing the Panic

Abstract

The purpose of this qualitative research was to discover the experiences of the women in panic during the labor. Nine women, selected and assessed by their midwives, were interviewed about their birth experiences. The data were analyzed extracting the following factors: the physical contractions, the communication gap between midwife and woman and the expectations of labor versus the reality. In their birth experiences, we also found out psychological state regarding: 1. confidence 2. agitation 3. feeling threatened 4. fear 5. feeling overwhelmed 6.unpredictability 7. pain 8. denial 9. confusion 10.conflict. The first eight factors were associated with their contractions. Factors nine and ten resulted from poor communication.