Positive childbirth experience: A qualitative study

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to explore the meaning of a positive childbirth experience expressed by women who had given birth in Iran. Design: Qualitative exploratory study. Methods: This is a qualitative study conducted on 10 women aged 20–38 years with positive childbirth experience. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews from 72 hr–2 months after childbirth. Results: Data analysis led to into two themes and five subthemes. The themes include control and empowerment. Control theme consisted of three subthemes of preparation, coping and support; and empowerment theme consisted of two subthemes of self-efficacy and self-esteem. Women's sense of empowerment to childbirth can be the result of a positive childbirth experience. Therefore, it seems that providing positive experience factors of childbirth plays an important role in women's self-efficacy and self-esteem, which requires cooperation and effort at the level of the individual, family, education system and healthcare system.