Women's decision-making processes and experiences of vaginal birth after caesarean birth: A phenomenological study


AKGÜN M., BOZ İ.

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NURSING PRACTICE, vol.25, no.6, 2019 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 25 Issue: 6
  • Publication Date: 2019
  • Doi Number: 10.1111/ijn.12780
  • Journal Name: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NURSING PRACTICE
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus
  • Keywords: caesarean section, decision making, nurse, qualitative study, vaginal birth after caesarean, SECTION, OBSTETRICIANS, COUNTRIES, DELIVERY, VIEWS, MODE
  • Akdeniz University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Aim To discover, identify, and interpret the decision-making processes and experiences of women on vaginal birth after caesarean section. Methods This Husserlian phenomenological qualitative study was conducted using semistructured individual interviews with 12 women who experienced vaginal birth after caesarean section between August and December 2017. Colaizzi's qualitative analysis method was used. Results Four themes emerged: "finding a way to have vaginal birth after caesarean section," "healing by giving birth," "advantageous birth," and "being at the centre of the care," with 13 subthemes. Women defined vaginal birth after caesarean section as an important aspect of their femininity and a sense of motherhood. The women noted that traumatic experiences in caesarean section birth had been removed with vaginal birth and regarded this as an important spiritual experience and life event. The women reported that the important advantage of vaginal birth after caesarean section was not being in need of others in the post-partum period. However, women described negative experiences where health care professionals did not respect their birth preference or provide adequate information and support. Conclusions Continuing professional development training is recommended in order to improve health care professionals' caring consciousness about the importance of shared decision making for women's birth type.