The Birth Plan Experience-A Pilot Qualitative Study in Southern Spain

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Maternal Health
• Patient-Centered Care

Background:

• Healthcare systems promote quality and humanized care during childbirth.
• The Birth Plan document allows pregnant women to express their birth preferences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore women's experiences with using a Birth Plan.
• To understand how Birth Plans influence the childbirth experience.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative research utilizing a phenomenological design.
• Seven women participated, sharing their experiences with Birth Plans via intentional and convenience sampling.

Main Results:

• Four emergent themes: respecting women's wishes for humanized birth, information and primary care, expectations of care, and outcomes of Birth Plan use.
• Women's preferences were central to their birth experiences.

Conclusions:

• Birth Plans are beneficial for informing women and enhancing their birth experience by accommodating preferences.
• Women emphasize the need for trained professionals and greater attention to the overall birth process.