Professional strategies that address the whole family’s physical and emotional needs after a caesarean section

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to contribute to knowledge about how midwives manage the separation between mother and child after a caesarean section and how they try to manage the difficulties they encounter. Methods: Data were collected from 12 interviews and subjected to inductive qualitative content analysis. Results: The findings showed the importance of enabling midwives to reflect on their daily work and indicated that the partner’s role and participation after a caesarean section should receive greater focus and be part of routine care. Collaboration between the surgical and maternity wards could be improved by drawing up written guidelines to establish local routines. Together with national guidelines on minimising separation after a caesarean section, these suggestions could lead to more equal delivery of care for families.