A woman's awareness of her posture during labor

Abstract

The object of this study was to clarify what women were aware of their posture during labor. Twenty-six women who comprised the study group adopted their postures by themselves during labor. Data were collected by observing on their labor and delivery, and by interviewing them after their childbirth. Thereafter the data were analyzed inductively.
The content analysis yielded six elements of their kinesthetic sense as follows; 1) relieving pain/making pain stronger, 2) relaxation/increasing tension, 3) coming down of fetus, 4) taking a momentary rest, 5) getting stability, and 6) release from restriction. The women were aware that their kinesthetic senses changed in accordance with their postural changes during labor.
Changing woman's posture based on her kinesthetic sense during labor, she could control her progress of labor by herself, confirm her fetus was coming out, and change the attitude toward her labor. It is assumed that choosing her posture by herself during labor would encourege her to act more on her own initiative and she gets satisfaction from her childbearing.