Midwives' experiences with accompaniment service work in Norway: A qualitative study

Area of Science:

• Maternal health
• Healthcare accessibility
• Midwifery practice

Background:

• Centralization of health services increases risks for unplanned out-of-institution births.
• Increased distance to birth institutions is associated with higher risks.
• Skilled birth attendants are crucial for preventing adverse birth outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine midwives' experiences in Norway's accompaniment services.
• To understand the challenges and rewards of providing care during transport to birth institutions.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative interview study.
• 12 midwives participated in semi-structured interviews in January 2020.
• Data analyzed using systematic text condensation.

Main Results:

• Accompaniment service work is perceived as a heavy but professionally fulfilling responsibility.
• Being on call is a lifestyle choice, with motivation stemming from relationships with pregnant women.
• Midwives' confidence reassures expectant mothers; effective cooperation within the health service is vital for transport midwifery.

Conclusions:

• Midwives find caring for laboring women in accompaniment services challenging but meaningful.
• Professional knowledge is essential for risk identification and managing complications during transport.
• Despite heavy workloads, midwives continue in these roles to support women traveling long distances for birth.