Pregnant women's knowledge and needs on labor mobility: implications for childbirth preparation - a qualitative study

To explore pregnant women's knowledge, perceptions, and needs regarding mobility and upright positions during pregnancy, within the context of a childbirth preparation program.

A qualitative study using an interpretive thematic approach was conducted in primary healthcare settings in Portugal between December 2023 and January 2024. Data were collected through group and individual semi-structured interviews, and analyzed using interpretive thematic analysis.

Twenty-three pregnant women from five Community Care Units participated. Three key themes were identified: (1) Living my own childbirth, (2) Stay active for a positive experience, and (3) Empowering myself for labor and birth. Women described childbirth as a personal and autonomous process, valuing a sense of control and active participation. Mobility during labor was understood as an important strategy for comfort and supporting labor progression. Participants expressed a desire to feel empowered through access to evidence-based information and opportunities to develop practical skills, which contributed to building confidence and anticipating participation in decision-making. However, women also recognised that institutional and organisational constraints within clinical environments could limit their ability to act on these preferences, potentially leading to frustration and dissatisfaction.

Childbirth preparation programs should move beyond information provision to include strategies that strengthen women's self-efficacy and support their capacity to participate in decision-making, particularly regarding mobility during labor. At the same time, hospital environments need to be aligned with these preparatory efforts by respecting women's choices and supporting mobility and active participation during labor. These findings highlight the need for further research on interventions that support women's decision-making processes, particularly in less flexible or highly medicalised healthcare settings.