Mothers' Perceptions of Labor Support
Pirkko Nikula1, Helena Laukkala, Tarja Pölkki
1Pirkko Nikula is a Midwife, Department of Obstetric and Gynaecology, Oulu University Hospital, Finland. The author can be reached via e-mail at pike.nikula@gmail.com Helena Laukkala is a Lecturer, Department of Research Methodology, University of Lapland, Finland. Tarja Pölkki is an Adjunct Professor, Institute of Health Sciences, University of Oulu, Finland.
Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to describe mothers' perceptions of labor support during childbirth.
Study Design And Methods:
A cross-sectional, descriptive, correlational survey design was used. Data were collected using the Bryanton Adaptation of Nursing Support in Labor Questionnaire (BANSILQ) completed by new mothers (n = 260) in the postnatal ward in a Finnish university hospital. Nonparametric methods were used for data analysis.
Results:
Mothers perceived emotional assistance to be most important. From the list of midwives' labor support behaviors provided in the survey, the following were considered most helpful: giving praise, treating on an individual basis, and answering questions truthfully and understandably.
Clinical Implications:
Emotional, tangible, and informational labor support enhanced the mothers' birth experiences. Labor support should be provided when caring for every mother during childbirth. An evidence-based model of labor support should be used for nursing and midwifery education and clinical practice.
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