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The safety-net: what influences New Zealand first-time mothers' perceptions of safety for self and unborn child?

Abstract:

Background: Pregnancy, labour and birth are times when a mother wants to ensure both her, and her developing baby’s, safety. An objective of the present study was to investigate New Zealand (NZ) primiparous mothers’ perceptions of what contributes to a sense of safety for themselves and their unborn babies. Method: A qualitative method was used to obtain an insight into childbearing experience and new mothers’ concept of safety. Ten New Zealand first-time mothers aged 24 to 38 years (median 31.5 years) participated. These women took part in a semi-structured face-to-face interview within 11 days to 16 weeks of giving birth (median 13.5 weeks). The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and then analysed using thematic analysis informed by Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Method: A core theme identified across transcripts was designated ‘safetynet’. This theme incorporated the four subthemes: care of self and unborn child; the importance of midwife skills; the availability of a hospital facility and its resources; and the availability of medical expertise and intervention. Conclusions: The present study highlights what influences first-time mothers’ perceptions of safety for self and unborn baby. Women sought out relevant information and managed important lifestyle changes. They took care over selection of a midwife. Additionally, the availability of a local tertiary care facility with highly skilled obstetricians, obstetric registrars, anaesthetists, paediatricians and hospital support staff increased participants’ perception of safety and gave them the confidence to select birth options suited to their needs.

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Birth, labour, midwife, pregnancy, safety