Analysis of Childbirth Experience Based on Early Puerperal Locus of Control

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to identify sense of control among early puerperal mothers. We conducted semi-constitutive interviews on 10 mothers who recently had babies. Qualitative analysis was then performed using Berelson's content analysis method. There are six types of childbirth experience related to sense of control: "births on their own", "births collaborated with babies", "births with the help of families and significant others", "births with the help of professionals", "births controlled by destiny and power of nature" and "births protected by spiritual existence". The first one is the only experience based on internal control, while the others are on external control. It is indicated that to make mothers aware of external control and to recover or reinforce internal control by regaining sense of control once transferred to external control are effective in helping mothers to find meaning of their childbirth experience.