“I shut it out”: expectant mothers’ fear of childbirth after a traumatic birth—a phenomenological study
Purpose To describe expectant mothers’ experiences of fear of childbirth after a previous traumatic birth. Method Qualitative, individual, in-depth interviews were conducted with eight expectant mothers between September and November 2020. Data were analysed using a descriptive phenomenological appr...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2022-12-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2022.2101209 |
| _version_ | 1827048637846257664 |
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| author | Barbo Olsen Anikken Forgaard Anne-Hedvig Salmi Nordsletta Eva Sommerseth Idun Røseth |
| author_facet | Barbo Olsen Anikken Forgaard Anne-Hedvig Salmi Nordsletta Eva Sommerseth Idun Røseth |
| author_sort | Barbo Olsen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Purpose To describe expectant mothers’ experiences of fear of childbirth after a previous traumatic birth. Method Qualitative, individual, in-depth interviews were conducted with eight expectant mothers between September and November 2020. Data were analysed using a descriptive phenomenological approach. Results We identified four interconnected constituents: Suboptimal midwifery care, loss of control and agency; insufficient time and capacity to process a traumatic birth experience; “The baby has to be delivered!”, and finally, the path to a new childbirth with the hope of mastering fears. Conclusion Findings reveal an association between a previous history of traumatic birth and a fear of childbirth in expectant mothers. The trauma they experienced whilst giving birth strongly impacted their subsequent pregnancy, making it difficult for them to deal with the new pregnancy and impending birth. Women who have experienced a traumatic birth need to have the opportunity to process the trauma. Routines must therefore be developed that identify, support and follow up with the women. If these women are identified and given the help they need, this may help prevent and/or alleviate fear of childbirth in their subsequent pregnancy. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T00:48:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-18e2bae7be32460995b8d8ac917c111b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1748-2623 1748-2631 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-02-18T15:33:00Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being |
| spelling | doaj.art-18e2bae7be32460995b8d8ac917c111b2024-10-25T13:48:29ZengTaylor & Francis GroupInternational Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being1748-26231748-26312022-12-0117110.1080/17482631.2022.21012092101209“I shut it out”: expectant mothers’ fear of childbirth after a traumatic birth—a phenomenological studyBarbo Olsen0Anikken Forgaard1Anne-Hedvig Salmi Nordsletta2Eva Sommerseth3Idun Røseth4University of South-Eastern NorwayUniversity of South-Eastern NorwayUniversity of South-Eastern NorwayUniversity of South-Eastern NorwayUniversity of South-Eastern NorwayPurpose To describe expectant mothers’ experiences of fear of childbirth after a previous traumatic birth. Method Qualitative, individual, in-depth interviews were conducted with eight expectant mothers between September and November 2020. Data were analysed using a descriptive phenomenological approach. Results We identified four interconnected constituents: Suboptimal midwifery care, loss of control and agency; insufficient time and capacity to process a traumatic birth experience; “The baby has to be delivered!”, and finally, the path to a new childbirth with the hope of mastering fears. Conclusion Findings reveal an association between a previous history of traumatic birth and a fear of childbirth in expectant mothers. The trauma they experienced whilst giving birth strongly impacted their subsequent pregnancy, making it difficult for them to deal with the new pregnancy and impending birth. Women who have experienced a traumatic birth need to have the opportunity to process the trauma. Routines must therefore be developed that identify, support and follow up with the women. If these women are identified and given the help they need, this may help prevent and/or alleviate fear of childbirth in their subsequent pregnancy.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2022.2101209fear of childbirthbirth anxietytraumatic birthpregnant womenexpectant mothersmidwifephenomenologyexperience |
| spellingShingle | Barbo Olsen Anikken Forgaard Anne-Hedvig Salmi Nordsletta Eva Sommerseth Idun Røseth “I shut it out”: expectant mothers’ fear of childbirth after a traumatic birth—a phenomenological study International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being fear of childbirth birth anxiety traumatic birth pregnant women expectant mothers midwife phenomenology experience |
| title | “I shut it out”: expectant mothers’ fear of childbirth after a traumatic birth—a phenomenological study |
| title_full | “I shut it out”: expectant mothers’ fear of childbirth after a traumatic birth—a phenomenological study |
| title_fullStr | “I shut it out”: expectant mothers’ fear of childbirth after a traumatic birth—a phenomenological study |
| title_full_unstemmed | “I shut it out”: expectant mothers’ fear of childbirth after a traumatic birth—a phenomenological study |
| title_short | “I shut it out”: expectant mothers’ fear of childbirth after a traumatic birth—a phenomenological study |
| title_sort | i shut it out expectant mothers fear of childbirth after a traumatic birth a phenomenological study |
| topic | fear of childbirth birth anxiety traumatic birth pregnant women expectant mothers midwife phenomenology experience |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2022.2101209 |
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