Conference Proceedings - School of Nursing & Midwifery - Trinity ...

School of Nursing & Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin: 8 th Annual Interdisciplinary Research Conference
Transforming Healthcare Through Research, Education & Technology: 7 th – 9 th November 2007
Conference Proceedings
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An exploration of women’s experience of labour and birth in
Irish Hospitals: The control dimension.
Patricia Larkin RM RGN PGCEA MSc. Midwifery Doctoral Student
Health Research Board Funded.
Institution: University of Dublin Trinity College.
Address 28 Beaulieu Mews, Greenhills, Drogheda Co. Louth.
Telephone: 0876221601
e mail: larkinpa@tcd.ie
Professor Cecily M. Begley, Ph.D., MSc., RM, RGN (Professor of
Nursing, Midwifery/Director), Institution: University of Dublin
Trinity College.
Declan Devane, RM, RGN, RNT, Dip HE, BSc., PgDip (Stats), MSc.
(Lecturer in Midwifery/Doctoral Student Institution: University of
Dublin Trinity College.
Background and Context
Women have expectations not only for the safe birth of their baby
but also for the process of labour and birth. Maternity services
should be responsive to these expectations. Involving women in
determining the important elements of a service requires a
thorough assessment of women’s needs. In Ireland, women’s
experiences of childbirth have not been well documented.
Aim
To explore women’s experience of labour and birth in Irish
Hospitals.
Methodology
Following ethical approval, a qualitative, descriptive study
consisting of a series of five focus group interviews was conducted.
To obtain a diversity of cultural, socio-economic, demographic and
service provision perspectives, a purposeful sample of 27 postnatal
participants was recruited from four randomly selected Irish
maternity hospitals. Data were analysed using Colaizzi’s framework.
Three broad themes were identified: ‘Getting started’, ‘Getting
there’ and ‘Consequences’. This presentation focuses on the theme
of ‘the control continuum,’ a category of the second theme.
Key Findings
Aspects of labour and birth related to ‘feeling in control’ were
complex, but crucial to women’s experiences. There were five sub
categories related to women feeling in control: information giving,
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