Women’s Experiences of Vaginal Birth: A Qualitative Study

Year 2025, Volume: 35 Issue: 2, 269 - 275, 30.04.2025

Havva Yeşildere Sağlam , Atike Kaya , Elif Gursoy

https://doi.org/10.54005/geneltip.1563740

Abstract

Aims: Women gain important experiences during the birth process that they will remember throughout their lives. The aim of this study is to examine women's traumatic birth experiences.
Methods: This study is a qualitative study conducted with a phenomenological approach. Data were collected using a Personal Information Form and a Semi-structured Interview Form. Interviews continued until data saturation was reached and the study was completed with 16 women. Thematic analysis method was used in data analysis.
Results: Women's experiences were analyzed under four main themes: Situations that leave a mark, Physical environment, Obstetric violence and Expectations.
Conclusion: It was determined that women had traumatic experiences related to the birth process. It was determined that women experienced complex emotions during the birth process and were exposed to obstetric violence. Women characterized birth as salvation and beginning. For women to have a positive birth experience, their care should be planned in a respectful, supportive and holistic manner and their decisions should be respected.
Keywords: vaginal birth, birth experience, qualitative research, phenomenology

Keywords

vaginal birth , birth experience , qualitative research , phenomenology

Ethical Statement

This study was approved by a Research Ethics Review Board in Turkey (approval no: E-25403353-050.99-313327/2022). Before starting the study, the participants were informed about the study, and women who volunteered to participate in the study were included. In this study, the articles in the Declaration of Helsinki were followed.

Supporting Institution

There are no institutions and organizations that support and fund the study.

Thanks

-

References

• 1. Dahlberg U, Persen J, Skogås A-K, Selboe S-T, Torvik HM, Aune I. How can midwives promote a normal birth and a positive birth experience? The experience of first-time Norwegian mothers. Sex Reprod Healthc. 2016;7:2-7.
• 2. Hosseini Tabaghdehi M, Keramat A, Kolahdozan S, Shah Hosseini Z, Moosazadeh M, Motaghi Z. Positive childbirth experience: A qualitative study. Nurs Open. 2020;7(4):1233-8.
• 3. Namujju J, Muhindo R, Mselle LT, Waiswa P, Nankumbi J, Muwanguzi P. Childbirth experiences and their derived meaning: a qualitative study among postnatal mothers in Mbale regional referral hospital, Uganda. Reprod Health. 2018;15:1-11.
• 4. Çetin Avcı S, Işık G, Çetişli Egelioğlu N. Doğum Korkusu Yaşayan Annelerin Doğum Deneyimleri: Fenomenolojik Bir Çalışma. Journal of Nursology. 2023;26(1):34-42.
• 5. Aktaş Reyhan F, Dağlı E. Doğum Anılarının Üç Kuşak-Kuşaklararası Aktarımı ve Üçüncü Kuşaktaki Doğum Algısına Etkisi. Gümüşhane Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi. 2022;11(3):1143-50.
• 6. Bal MD, Yılmaz S, Beji NK. Kadınların sezaryen doğum tercihleri. Florence Nightingale Hemşirelik Dergisi. 2013;21(2):139-46.
• 7. Yanıkkerem E, Göker A, Piro N. Sezaryen doğum yapan kadınların doğum yöntemleri hakkında düşünceleri ve aldıkları bakım memnuniyeti. Selçuk Tıp Dergisi. 2013;29(2):75-81.
• 8. Tong A, Sainsbury P, Craig J. Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ): a 32-item checklist for interviews and focus groups. International journal for quality in health care. 2007;19(6):349-57.
• 9. Yıldırım A, Şimşek H. Sosyal bilimlerde nitel araştırma yöntemleri: Seçkin yayıncılık; 2013.
• 10. Braun V, Clarke V. Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qual Res Psychol. 2006;3(2):77-101.
• 11. Schwandt TA, Lincoln YS, Guba EG. Judging interpretations: But is it rigorous? Trustworthiness and authenticity in naturalistic evaluation. New Dir Eval.2007;2007(114):11-25.
• 12. Wigert H, Nilsson C, Dencker A, Begley C, Jangsten E, Sparud-Lundin C, et al. Women’s experiences of fear of childbirth: a meta-synthesis of qualitative studies. Int J Qual Stud Health Well-being. 2020;15(1):1704484.
• 13. Aktaş S, Aydın R. The analysis of negative birth experiences of mothers: a qualitative study. J Reprod Infant Psychol. 2019;37(2):176-92.
• 14. Mirghafourvand M, Meedya S, Mohammadi E, Mohammad-Alizadeh-Charandabi S, Jafarabadi MA, Ghanbari-Homaie S. Iranian women’s perception on the determinants of birth experience: a qualitative study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2022;22(1):751.
• 15. Deliktaş Demirci A, Kabukcuglu K, Haugan G, Aune I. “I want a birth without interventions”: Women’s childbirth experiences from Turkey. Women Birth. 2019;32(6):e515-e22.
• 16. Parry DC. “We wanted a birth experience, not a medical experience”: exploring Canadian women's use of midwifery. Health Care Women Int.2008;29(8-9):784-806.
• 17. Aune I, Torvik HM, Selboe S-T, Skogås A-K, Persen J, Dahlberg U. Promoting a normal birth and a positive birth experience—Norwegian women׳ s perspectives. Midwifery. 2015;31(7):721-7.
• 18. Abuya T, Sripad P, Ritter J, Ndwiga C, Warren CE. Measuring mistreatment of women throughout the birthing process: implications for quality of care assessments. Reprod Health Matters. 2018;26(53):48-61.
• 19. Aktas Reyhan FA, Sayiner FD, Ozen H. A mixed-design study on the development of birth unit assessment scale. Midwifery. 2023;123:103708.
• 20. Foureur M, Davis D, Fenwick J, Leap N, Iedema R, Forbes I, et al. The relationship between birth unit design and safe, satisfying birth: Developing a hypothetical model. Midwifery. 2010;26(5):520-5.
• 21. Annborn A, Finnbogadóttir HR. Obstetric violence a qualitative interview study. Midwifery. 2022;105:103212.
• 22. Schoene BE, Oblasser C, Stoll K, Gross MM. Midwifery students witnessing violence during labor and birth and their attitudes towards supporting normal labor: a cross-sectional survey. Midwifery. 2023;119:103626.
• 23. Martínez-Galiano JM, Martinez-Vazquez S, Rodríguez-Almagro J, Hernández-Martinez A. The magnitude of the problem of obstetric violence and its associated factors: A cross-sectional study. WomenBirth. 2021;34(5):e526-e36.
• 24. Meijer M, Brandão T, Cañadas S, Falcon K. Components of obstetric violence in health facilities in Quito, Ecuador: A descriptive study on information, accompaniment, and position during childbirth. Int J Gynaecol Obstet.. 2020;148(3):355-60.
• 25. Coates R, Cupples G, Scamell A, McCourt C. Women's experiences of induction of labor: qualitative systematic review and thematic synthesis. Midwifery. 2019;69:17-28.
• 26. Meyer S, Cignacco E, Monteverde S, Trachsel M, Raio L, Oelhafen S. ‘We felt like part of a production system’: A qualitative study on women’s experiences of mistreatment during childbirth in Switzerland. PloS one. 2022;17(2):e0264119.
• 27. Avcı N, Kaydırak MM. A qualitative study of women's experiences with obstetric violence during childbirth in Turkey. Midwifery. 2023;121:103658.
• 28. Bohren MA, Mehrtash H, Fawole B, Maung TM, Balde MD, Maya E, et al. How women are treated during facility-based childbirth in four countries: a cross-sectional study with labor observations and community-based surveys. The Lancet. 2019;394(10210):1750-63.