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First-time New Zealand mothers' experience of birth: importance of relationship and support

Abstract:

Background: Becoming a mother is a major developmental life event. The new mother may need to reorganize her priorities, behaviours, and goals to meet this new challenge while at the same time sustaining her sense of self. Support from others contextualises these adjustments, but little is known about mothers’ experience of support received from the range of people they interact with, in the build up to and during birthing. Method: A qualitative methodology was employed to obtain an in-depth insight into the birth experience of first-time New Zealand mothers. Ten participants aged 24 to 38 years (median 31.5 years) were interviewed face-to-face within 11 days to 16 weeks of giving birth (median 13.5 weeks). The semistructured interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using a phenomenological form of thematic analysis. Results: A core theme identified as common across transcripts was relationship issues. Four subthemes were differentiated: midwife relationships; partner involvement; family and friend support; and continuous support. The midwife relationship was notably important to all participants. Partners were considered the primary providers of continuous support, along with family, friends and midwives. Participants wanted their partners fully involved for the support partners gave and as an acknowledgement of the changes occurring in their relationships, from couple-hood to family. Conclusions: The present findings reflect the importance new mothers in New Zealand attribute to relationships. Acknowledging the importance of relationships and encouraging relationship development are likely to enhance the sense of birth satisfaction felt by New Zealand first-time mothers.

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Birth satisfaction, childbirth, first-time mother, midwives, relationship issues, support