Trust, Vacillation ad Neglect: Refugee women’s experiences regarding pregnancy and birth giving in Finland

Abstract

The paper analyses how refugee women experience pregnancy and childbirth in interaction with professionals. The narrative analysis identifies three storylines: one about ‘good’ experiences and emphasizing satisfaction; another about dramatic experiences and disappointments with maternity care; a third about tragic experiences as a result of failures of the maternity care system. Building on the theorizing on the relevance of trust and confidence in salutogenic theory, the analysis concludes that all women, regardless of how they interpret their experiences, value reciprocal relationships with care providers. Social recognition as an equal partner in care helps women to overcome difficult experiences related to pregnancy and childbirth.