First time mother's emotional experience of normal childbirth in a large tertiary level hospital

Childbirth is not just a physical process, it involves the mind, body and spirit and needs to be understood from an emotional and psychological dimension (Dixon et al. 2014, Larkin et al. 2012). In Ireland, emotional and... [ view full abstract ]

Childbirth is not just a physical process, it involves the mind, body and spirit and needs to be understood from an emotional and psychological dimension (Dixon et al. 2014, Larkin et al. 2012). In Ireland, emotional and psychological consequences of labour and birth are under-researched. 

The aim of this study was to explore women’s emotional experiences of childbirth in a large tertiary hospital in Ireland.

This was a qualitative descriptive design with six, low risk first time mothers who described their births in terms of their emotions. Semi-structured interviews were used as a method of data collection four to ten days after giving birth. Thematic analysis was used as a method for data analysis.  Ethical approval was obtained. 

Themes identified were: 

• the start and the journey
• moving on
• the ‘Zone’
• working hard
• bubble of love
• fitting into my life perfectly

• a safe place

There is a myriad of complex emotions involved in childbirth.  Emotions make us human and if the feelings of women are not seen as important then the woman herself is not important.  The participants all had a positive birth experience.  Their emotional experience of childbirth was intrinsic to the overall quality of their experience from the onset of labour to the birth.