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Published on: January 12, 2018
Navigating the latent phase of labour: women's experiences within structural constraints - a qualitative study from
Caro Jeltsch1, Sabine Rivière2, Oda von Rahden3
1Department of Technology and Health for People, Jade University of Applied Sciences, Oldenburg/Wilhelmshaven/Elsfleth, Germany. caro.jeltsch@jade-hs.de.
Background:
The latent phase of labour plays an important role in shaping women's overall birth experiences. Limited professional support during this early, and often ambiguous, period can increase anxiety and undermine confidence. However, existing research infrequently examines how social and structural factors interact to influence women's access to support during the latent phase of labour. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify the informational and support needs of women in different contextual circumstances.
Methods:
This qualitative study explored how intersectional factors shape women's experiences and access to care during their latent phase in labour in Germany. Twenty-two women, who had given birth in hospitals following a spontaneous onset of labour, participated in semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis according to Kuckartz, informed by participatory health-research principles.
Results:
Women described their preparations for the latent phase in diverse and individual ways, often characterized by uncertainty regarding the onset and progression of labour. Rather than referring to discrete stages, participants reported embodied sensations and decision-making processes unfolding as a continuum. Access to information and professional support during this period was shaped by structural factors, such as the regional availability of midwives, transport options, and language barriers. On-call and home-based midwifery services were perceived as highly reassuring, but remained accessible to only a few participants. In hospital settings, women sometimes reported inconsistent communication, limited reassurance, and uncertainty during the latent phase of labour.
Conclusions:
Experiences of the latent phase were shaped not only by individual factors but also by social and structural conditions. Strengthening equity in maternity care requires addressing financial, geographical, and linguistic barriers, to ensure that midwife-led, woman-centered support during latent labour becomes accessible to all women.
