Women's experiences of augmentation of labour with synthetic oxytocin in Ireland: A qualitative descriptive study

To provide a rich description of women's experiences of augmentation of labour with synthetic oxytocin within the Irish context.

Fourteen one-to-one semi-structured interviews were conducted. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis.

Two themes emerged from the data: 'Birthtrayal' and 'Rebirth'. Women described feeling pressured to consent to have their labour augmented or lacking insufficient information to give genuine informed consent. They repeatedly highlighted the atypical and intense pain of the augmented contractions. Over time, many women regretted not having asked more questions, having been too trusting of healthcare professionals and accepting to undergo augmentation of labour with synthetic oxytocin. In subsequent pregnancies and births, women adopted different strategies to avoid undergoing augmentation of labour with synthetic oxytocin again.

Augmentation of labour with synthetic oxytocin has key implications on women's birth experiences and may have long-term consequences in their trust in healthcare professionals and future birth choices.