The experience of giving birth in a hospital in Spain: Humanization versus technification

Abstract

Aim: To explore and describe the experiences of women giving birth in a tertiary public hospital, with special focus on experiences related to humanized care and women's participation in decision making. Method: This is a qualitative phenomenological study through semi-structured interviews to postpartum women giving birth in a tertiary hospital between January and May 2017. Data were analysed through content analysis. Results: The two overarching themes emerged were the professional-information dyad and privacy. Subthemes of the first main theme were the therapeutic relationship, decision-making, feeding the baby, procedures, and the time factor. Subthemes of the second topic were the feelings generated by the hospital environment, the delivery room, and the maternity ward. Conclusions: If the therapeutic relationship is good, technology is not seen as dehumanising but rather as necessary to ensure continuing safety. “Humanising” material resources are not a priority for women in the birth process and are little used. Privacy was experienced as being a particularly intense need, which women called for throughout the healthcare process.