[Experiencing care in the birthing center context: the users' perspective]

In Brazil, the delivery and birth care model in Brazil has been the topic of many studies and discussions about introducing obstetric practices that take women's autonomy into account in the parturition process. Birthing Centers propose models that represent a new scenario to deliver such care. The objective of this was to understand the experience of women in labor in the context of a Birthing Center located in the city of São Paulo. Data was collected from March to October 2007 and analyzed according to the Alfred Schütz social phenomenology framework. Seven women participated in this study. Results showed that women choose the Birthing Center expecting to receive humanized care and that, within this context, they have positive and negative experiences. It is imperative to discuss public policies for delivery care, as well as its implementation and impact on perinatal health indicators.