Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

LIVE: Thursday 27th June 2024, 18:00-19:30 (CEST)
Join our expert panel to discover why you need to understand the drivers of non-adherence in your patients, and how you can optimize medication adherence in your clinics to drastically improve patient outcomes.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
Published in: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 1/2020

01-12-2020 | Anxiety | Research article

Primiparous women’s experiences of normal vaginal delivery in Iran: a qualitative study

Authors: Marzieh Khamehchian, Mohsen Adib-Hajbaghery, Nastaran HeydariKhayat, Mahboubeh Rezaei, Mahdieh Sabery

Published in: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth | Issue 1/2020

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

Childbirth is considered as the most challenging psychological event in a woman’s life. It has a major effect on women’s lives with long-term positive or negative impacts. Cultural, religious, and socioeconomic differences can affect women’s perception about normal vaginal delivery (NVD) experience. Therefore, it is necessary to explore the primiparous women’s perception about it.

Methods

This qualitative study, with a descriptive content analysis approach, was conducted in Kashan, a city in the center of Iran. Purposive sampling was used to recruit the participants of the current study. Data was gathered by semi-structured interviews during 24 h after normal vaginal birth among primiparous women. The sampling started from June to October in 2016. Interviews continued until data saturation which was achieved in the 14th interview but for assurance, it continued until the 17th one.

Results

The following three main themes were extracted “immersion in stress”, “pain, the essence of NVD” and “strategies for situation management”. Furthermore, seven subthemes were obtained including ‘loss threat’, ‘stressful context’, temporary impairment in physiologic harmony, paradoxical emotions, self-management, emotional support, and spiritual support.

Conclusions

This study showed that stress and pain were two highlighted issues in NVD process. Increasing women’s awareness about NVD process, familiarizing the primiparous women with the simulated delivery room, accompanying these women for emotional support, and providing spiritual support can be effective in situation management to make the child delivery a pleasant and satisfying experience.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Literature
1.
Taheri M, Takian A, Taghizadeh Z, Jafari N, Sarafraz N. Creating a positive perception of childbirth experience: systematic review and meta-analysis of prenatal and intrapartum interventions. Reprod Health. 2018;15(1):73.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
2.
Guittier M-J, Cedraschi C, Jamei N, Boulvain M, Guillemin F. Impact of mode of delivery on the birth experience in first-time mothers: a qualitative study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2014;14(1):254.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
3.
Bertucci V, Boffo M, Mannarini S, Serena A, Saccardi C, Cosmi E, et al. Assessing the perception of the childbirth experience in Italian women: A contribution to the adaptation of the childbirth perception questionnaire. Midwifery. 2012;28(2):265–74.PubMedCrossRef
4.
Boryri T, Noori NM, Teimouri A, Yaghobinia F. The perception of primiparous mothers of comfortable resources in labor pain (a qualitative study). Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res. 2016;21(3):239.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
5.
Nilvér H, Begley C, Berg M. Measuring women’s childbirth experiences: a systematic review for identification and analysis of validated instruments. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2017;17(1):203.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
6.
Hildingsson I, Johansson M, Karlström A, Fenwick J. Factors associated with a positive birth experience: an exploration of swedish women’s experiences. Int J Childbirth. 2013;3(3):153–64.CrossRef
7.
Smarandache A, Kim TH, Bohr Y, Tamim H. Predictors of a negative labour and birth experience based on a national survey of Canadian women. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2016;16(1):114.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
8.
Rafiei M, Ghare MS, Akbari M, Kiani F, Sayehmiri F, Sayehmiri K, et al. Prevalence, causes, and complications of cesarean delivery in Iran: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Reprod Biomed. 2018;16(4):221.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
9.
Khatony A, Soroush A, Andayeshgar B, Saedpanah N, Abdi A. Attitude of primiparous women towards their preference for delivery method: a qualitative content analysis. Arch Public Health. 2019;77(1):38.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
10.
Akbari S, Ahmadi S. Analyzing the effective factors of choosing delivery method of the primiparous pregnant women attending to Khoramabad’s Asalian hospital in 2014. Indian J Fundamental Appl Life Sci. 2014;4(3):656–63.
11.
Shahoei R, Rezaei M, Ranaei F, Khosravy F, Zaheri F. K urdish women's preference for mode of birth: a qualitative study. Int J Nurs Pract. 2014;20(3):302–9.PubMedCrossRef
12.
Aziato L, Odai PN, Omenyo CN. Religious beliefs and practices in pregnancy and labour: an inductive qualitative study among post-partum women in Ghana. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2016;16(1):138.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
13.
Zahrani ST, Rafiei EH, Hajian S, Majd HA, Izadi A. The Correlation between Spiritual Health and Maternal-Fetal Attachment Behaviors in Pregnant Women Referring to the Health Centers in Qazvin, Iran; 2020.
14.
Jafarzadeh A, Hadavi M, Hasanshahi G, Rezaeian M, Vazirinejad R, Aminzadeh F, et al. Cesarean or Cesarean Epidemic? Arch Iran Med. 2019;22(11):663–70.PubMed
15.
Betrán AP, Temmerman M, Kingdon C, Mohiddin A, Opiyo N, Torloni MR, et al. Interventions to reduce unnecessary caesarean sections in healthy women and babies. Lancet. 2018;392(10155):1358–68.PubMedCrossRef
16.
Azami-Aghdash S, Ghojazadeh M, Dehdilani N, Mohammadi M. Prevalence and causes of cesarean section in Iran: systematic review and meta-analysis. Iran J Public Health. 2014;43(5):545.PubMedPubMedCentral
17.
Faisal I, Matinnia N, Hejar A, Khodakarami Z. Why do primigravidae request caesarean section in a normal pregnancy? A qualitative study in Iran. Midwifery. 2014;30(2):227–33.PubMedCrossRef
18.
Khayyatian N, Nasiri S. Prevalence of cesarean section and its causes in governmental obstetric hospitals of Kashan-2014; 2016.
19.
Ghanbari Z, Shokouhmand R, Asadi H, Naghizadeh S, Chupani F. Assessing the relative contribution of causes leading to cesarean section among women who had referred to Shahid Madani Clinic in Marand city; 2014.
20.
Sotoodeh Jahromi A, Rahmanian K, Madani A. Relation of knowledge about cesarean disadvantages and delivery mode selection in women with first pregnancy; south of Iran. J Res Med Dent Sci. 2018;6(2):550–6.
21.
Sahlin M, Carlander-Klint A-K, Hildingsson I, Wiklund I. First-time mothers' wish for a planned caesarean section: deeply rooted emotions. Midwifery. 2013;29(5):447–52.PubMedCrossRef
22.
Pazandeh F, Potrata B, Huss R, Hirst J, House A. Women’s experiences of routine care during labour and childbirth and the influence of medicalisation: a qualitative study from Iran. Midwifery. 2017;53:63–70.PubMedCrossRef
23.
Pirdil M, Pirdel L. A comparison of women’s expectations of labour and birth with the experiences in primiparas and multiparas with normal vaginal delivery. J Kathmandu Med College. 2015;4(1):16–25.CrossRef
24.
Graneheim UH, Lundman B. Qualitative content analysis in nursing research: concepts, procedures and measures to achieve trustworthiness. Nurse Educ Today. 2004;24(2):105–12.PubMedCrossRef
25.
Raksha G, Anjali T, Kirna T. An exploratory study to assess the factors causing anxiety among Primigravida planned for Normal vaginal delivery and caesarean section admitted at Mata Kaushalya hospital, Patiala, Punjab. Maternal Pediatr Nutrition. 2017;3(1):1–8.
26.
Misaeli C, Kamala B, Mgaya A, Kidanto HL. Factors associated with women’s intention to request caesarean delivery in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. S Afr J Obstet Gynaecol. 2017;23(2):56–62.
27.
Ghotbi F, Akbari Sene A, Azargashb E, Shiva F, Mohtadi M, Zadehmodares S, et al. Women's knowledge and attitude towards mode of delivery and frequency of cesarean section on mother's request in six public and private hospitals in T ehran, I ran, 2012. J Obstet Gynaecol Res. 2014;40(5):1257–66.PubMedCrossRef
28.
Zakerhamidi M, Shoarinejad S, Mohammadpour S. Fe3O4 nanoparticle effect on dielectric and ordering behavior of nematic liquid crystal host. J Mol Liq. 2014;191:16–9.CrossRef
29.
Ravangard R, Basiri A, Sajjadnia Z, Shokrpour N. Comparison of the effects of using physiological methods and accompanying a doula in deliveries on nulliparous women's anxiety and pain: a case study in Iran. Health Care Manag. 2017;36(4):372–9.
30.
31.
Elvander C, Cnattingius S, Kjerulff KH. Birth experience in women with low, intermediate or high levels of fear: findings from the first baby study. Birth. 2013;40(4):289–96.PubMedCrossRef
32.
Mahmood K. Labour and birth experiences and awareness of pain relief among Kurdish women: University of Sheffield; 2016.
33.
Akadri AA, Odelola OI. Labour pain perception: experiences of Nigerian mothers. Pan Afr Med J. 2018;30(1).
34.
Safarzadeh A, Beigi M, Salehian T, Khojasteh F, Burayri T, Navabirigi S. Effect of doula support on labour pain and outcomes in Primiparous women in Zahedan, southeastern Iran: a randomized controlled trial. J Pain Relief. 2012;1(5):2167–0846.1000112.CrossRef
35.
Roudsari RL, Zakerihamidi M, Khoei EM. Socio-cultural beliefs, values and traditions regarding women’s preferred mode of birth in the north of Iran. Int J Commun Based Nurs Midwifery. 2015;3(3):165.
36.
Zamani-Alavijeh F, Araban M, Hassanzadeh A, Makhouli K. Contributing factors of pregnant women’s beliefs towards mode of delivery: a cross-sectional study from Iran. Maternal Health Neonatol Perinatol. 2018;4(1):9.CrossRef
37.
Taghinejad H, Delpisheh A, Suhrabi Z. Comparison between massage and music therapies to relieve the severity of labor pain. Womens Health. 2010;6(3):377–81.
38.
Callister LC, Khalaf I, Semenic S, Kartchner R, Vehvilainen-Julkunen K. The pain of childbirth: perceptions of culturally diverse women. Pain Manag Nurs. 2003;4(4):145–54.PubMedCrossRef
39.
Larkin P, Begley CM, Devane D. ‘Not enough people to look after you’: an exploration of women's experiences of childbirth in the Republic of Ireland. Midwifery. 2012;28(1):98–105.PubMedCrossRef
40.
Wilson CL, Simpson JA. Childbirth pain, attachment orientations, and romantic partner support during labor and delivery. Pers Relat. 2016;23(4):622–44.CrossRef
41.
Downe S, Finlayson K, Oladapo O, Bonet M, Gülmezoglu AM. What matters to women during childbirth: a systematic qualitative review. PLoS One. 2018;13(4):e0194906.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
42.
Hodnett ED, Gates S, Hofmeyr GJ, Sakala C. Continuous support for women during childbirth. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;7.
43.
44.
Hans SL, Thullen M, Henson LG, Lee H, Edwards RC, Bernstein VJ. Promoting positive mother–infant relationships: a randomized trial of community doula support for young mothers. Infant Ment Health J. 2013;34(5):446–57.CrossRef
45.
Stevens J, Dahlen H, Peters K, Jackson D. Midwives’ and doulas’ perspectives of the role of the doula in Australia: a qualitative study. Midwifery. 2011;27(4):509–16.PubMedCrossRef
46.
Mutmainnah M, Afiyanti Y. The experiences of spirituality during pregnancy and child birth in Indonesian muslim women. Enferm Clin. 2019;29:495–9.CrossRef
47.
Mohamadirizi S, Mohamadirizi M, Mohamadirizi S, Mahmoodi F. The effect of religious-spiritual support on childbirth self-efficacy. J Educ Health Promot. 2018;7.
Metadata
Title
Primiparous women’s experiences of normal vaginal delivery in Iran: a qualitative study
Authors
Marzieh Khamehchian
Mohsen Adib-Hajbaghery
Nastaran HeydariKhayat
Mahboubeh Rezaei
Mahdieh Sabery
Publication date
01-12-2020
Publisher
BioMed Central
Keyword
Anxiety
Published in
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth / Issue 1/2020
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2393
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-020-02954-4

Other articles of this Issue 1/2020

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 1/2020 Go to the issue

Research article

Geographical access to point-of-care testing for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy as an integral part of maternal healthcare in Ghana

Research article

Attitudes and beliefs in Swedish midwives and obstetricians towards obesity and gestational weight management

Research article

Exploring the breastfeeding knowledge level and its influencing factors of pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus

Research article

Characteristics of sleep/wake problems and delivery outcomes among pregnant Japanese women without gestational complications

Research article

Modifiable risk factors of congenital malformations in bale zone hospitals, Southeast Ethiopia: an unmatched case-control study

Research article

The effect of non-organophosphate household pesticides exposure during pregnancy on infants birth sizes and growth rate: a cohort study