TY - JOUR
T1 - The legacy of a self-reported negative birth experience
AU - Mercer, Jenny
AU - Green-Jervis, Cordelia
PY - 2012/10
Y1 - 2012/10
N2 - Aim: To consider accounts of first time mothers with a self-reported negative birth. Within these self reports, the analysis explored the role the midwife might play in the negative birth experience and discusses the importance of birth narratives for mothers. Background: For first time mothers who report negative births, the reality of the experience is typically incongruent with expectations. Limited research has explored the narratives of such women, especially after a long period of time has elapsed after the birth. Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with five participants who had reported a negative birth experience at least 1 year previously. An interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) of the data was performed. Results: Feelings of depersonalisation, a struggle to make sense of what happened and a sense of betrayal remained vivid in the participants' narratives long after the event. Participants indicated that they would have welcomed an opportunity to informally discuss and attempt to understand the events of their birth, either while still in the maternity unit, or with their GP at the post-natal follow up. Conclusions: The findings highlight that participants reported sharing post-birth stories could go some way to negating the legacy of a negative birth experience.
AB - Aim: To consider accounts of first time mothers with a self-reported negative birth. Within these self reports, the analysis explored the role the midwife might play in the negative birth experience and discusses the importance of birth narratives for mothers. Background: For first time mothers who report negative births, the reality of the experience is typically incongruent with expectations. Limited research has explored the narratives of such women, especially after a long period of time has elapsed after the birth. Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with five participants who had reported a negative birth experience at least 1 year previously. An interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) of the data was performed. Results: Feelings of depersonalisation, a struggle to make sense of what happened and a sense of betrayal remained vivid in the participants' narratives long after the event. Participants indicated that they would have welcomed an opportunity to informally discuss and attempt to understand the events of their birth, either while still in the maternity unit, or with their GP at the post-natal follow up. Conclusions: The findings highlight that participants reported sharing post-birth stories could go some way to negating the legacy of a negative birth experience.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84867339612&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.12968/bjom.2012.20.10.717
DO - 10.12968/bjom.2012.20.10.717
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84867339612
SN - 0969-4900
VL - 20
SP - 717
EP - 722
JO - British Journal of Midwifery
JF - British Journal of Midwifery
IS - 10
ER -