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.
Mothers found emotional support most crucial during childbirth. Providing praise, individualized care, and clear communication significantly improved their birth experiences, highlighting the need for comprehensive labor support.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Maternal Health
- Nursing Research
Background:
- Labor support is integral to childbirth experiences.
- Understanding mothers' perceptions of support is essential for improving care.
- Previous research indicates various forms of support can positively impact labor.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore and describe mothers' perceptions of labor support during childbirth.
- To identify specific labor support behaviors that mothers found most beneficial.
- To inform evidence-based practices in labor and delivery care.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional, descriptive, correlational survey design was employed.
- Data were collected from 260 new mothers using the Bryanton Adaptation of Nursing Support in Labor Questionnaire (BANSILQ).
- Surveys were administered in the postnatal ward of a Finnish university hospital, with nonparametric statistical methods used for analysis.
Main Results:
- Mothers identified emotional assistance as the most important form of labor support.
- Key helpful behaviors from midwives included giving praise, treating mothers as individuals, and providing truthful, understandable answers to questions.
- Specific supportive actions directly correlated with enhanced maternal experiences during labor.
Conclusions:
- Emotional, tangible, and informational labor support significantly enhance mothers' childbirth experiences.
- Consistent provision of labor support for all mothers during childbirth is recommended.
- An evidence-based model for labor support should be integrated into nursing and midwifery education and clinical practice.
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