First-time mothers’ choice of birthplace: influencing factors, expectations of the midwife’s role and perceived safety
Aim To explore first-time pregnant women's expectations and factors influencing their choice of birthplace. Background Although outcomes and advantages for low-risk childbearing women giving birth in midwifery-led units and home compared with obstetric units have been investigated prev...
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| Format: | Article |
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Wiley
2017
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| Online Access: | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/50136/ |
| _version_ | 1848798164482523136 |
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| author | Borrelli, Sara E. Walsh, Denis Spiby, Helen |
| author_facet | Borrelli, Sara E. Walsh, Denis Spiby, Helen |
| author_sort | Borrelli, Sara E. |
| building | Nottingham Research Data Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Aim
To explore first-time pregnant women's expectations and factors influencing their choice of birthplace.
Background
Although outcomes and advantages for low-risk childbearing women giving birth in midwifery-led units and home compared with obstetric units have been investigated previously, there is little information on the factors that influence women's choice of place of birth.
Design
A qualitative Straussian grounded theory methodology was adopted. Fourteen women expecting their first baby were recruited from three large National Health Service organizations that provided maternity services free at the point of care. The three organizations offered the following birthplace options: home, freestanding midwifery unit and obstetric unit. Ethical approvals were obtained and informed consent was gained from each participant.
Methods
Data collection was undertaken in 2013–2014. One tape-recorded face-to-face semistructured interview was conducted with each woman in the third trimester of pregnancy.
Findings
Findings are presented as three main themes: (i) influencing factors on the choice of birthplace; (ii) expectations on the midwife's ‘being’ and ‘doing’ roles; (iii) perceptions of safety.
Conclusion
Midwives should consider each woman's expectations and approach to birth beyond the planned birthplace, as these are often influenced by the intersection of various influencing factors. Several birthplace options should be made available to women in each maternity service and the alternatives should be shared with women by healthcare professionals during pregnancy to allow an informed choice. Virtual tours or visits to the birth units could also be offered to women to help them familiarize with the chosen setting. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T20:15:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | nottingham-50136 |
| institution | University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T20:15:25Z |
| publishDate | 2017 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | nottingham-501362020-05-04T18:54:53Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/50136/ First-time mothers’ choice of birthplace: influencing factors, expectations of the midwife’s role and perceived safety Borrelli, Sara E. Walsh, Denis Spiby, Helen Aim To explore first-time pregnant women's expectations and factors influencing their choice of birthplace. Background Although outcomes and advantages for low-risk childbearing women giving birth in midwifery-led units and home compared with obstetric units have been investigated previously, there is little information on the factors that influence women's choice of place of birth. Design A qualitative Straussian grounded theory methodology was adopted. Fourteen women expecting their first baby were recruited from three large National Health Service organizations that provided maternity services free at the point of care. The three organizations offered the following birthplace options: home, freestanding midwifery unit and obstetric unit. Ethical approvals were obtained and informed consent was gained from each participant. Methods Data collection was undertaken in 2013–2014. One tape-recorded face-to-face semistructured interview was conducted with each woman in the third trimester of pregnancy. Findings Findings are presented as three main themes: (i) influencing factors on the choice of birthplace; (ii) expectations on the midwife's ‘being’ and ‘doing’ roles; (iii) perceptions of safety. Conclusion Midwives should consider each woman's expectations and approach to birth beyond the planned birthplace, as these are often influenced by the intersection of various influencing factors. Several birthplace options should be made available to women in each maternity service and the alternatives should be shared with women by healthcare professionals during pregnancy to allow an informed choice. Virtual tours or visits to the birth units could also be offered to women to help them familiarize with the chosen setting. Wiley 2017-07-11 Article PeerReviewed Borrelli, Sara E., Walsh, Denis and Spiby, Helen (2017) First-time mothers’ choice of birthplace: influencing factors, expectations of the midwife’s role and perceived safety. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 73 (8). pp. 1937-1946. ISSN 1365-2648 Birthplace; Childbearing; Choice; Freestanding midwifery unit; Homebirth; Midwifery; Obstetric unit; Place of birth; Pregnancy; Women’s health http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jan.13272/abstract doi:10.1111/jan.13272 doi:10.1111/jan.13272 |
| spellingShingle | Birthplace; Childbearing; Choice; Freestanding midwifery unit; Homebirth; Midwifery; Obstetric unit; Place of birth; Pregnancy; Women’s health Borrelli, Sara E. Walsh, Denis Spiby, Helen First-time mothers’ choice of birthplace: influencing factors, expectations of the midwife’s role and perceived safety |
| title | First-time mothers’ choice of birthplace: influencing factors, expectations of the midwife’s role and perceived safety |
| title_full | First-time mothers’ choice of birthplace: influencing factors, expectations of the midwife’s role and perceived safety |
| title_fullStr | First-time mothers’ choice of birthplace: influencing factors, expectations of the midwife’s role and perceived safety |
| title_full_unstemmed | First-time mothers’ choice of birthplace: influencing factors, expectations of the midwife’s role and perceived safety |
| title_short | First-time mothers’ choice of birthplace: influencing factors, expectations of the midwife’s role and perceived safety |
| title_sort | first-time mothers’ choice of birthplace: influencing factors, expectations of the midwife’s role and perceived safety |
| topic | Birthplace; Childbearing; Choice; Freestanding midwifery unit; Homebirth; Midwifery; Obstetric unit; Place of birth; Pregnancy; Women’s health |
| url | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/50136/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/50136/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/50136/ |