To challenge oneself as a childbearing woman—the lived experience of vaginal birth after caesarean section in Sweden

ABSTRACT

Purpose: There is a need to gain deeper knowledge about women’s experience of vaginal birth after caesarean section (VBAC). Considerable research has been conducted on VBAC; however, only a few qualitative studies focus on women’s experiences. Therefore, the aim of this study was to describe the lived experiences of VBAC among women resident in Sweden, a country with a high VBAC rate.

Method: This studywas performed in accordance with a phenomenological reflective lifeworld approach. Interviews were conducted with nine women in an urban region of Sweden one year after their VBAC birth.

Results: The essential meaning of the studied phenomenon is “to challenge oneself as a childbearing woman”, which is further described by its four constituents: “striving for support from professionals”, “desiring the experience”, “contrasting and comparing memories of two different births” and “being part of the birthing culture”.

Conclusions: The experience of VBAC meant regained trust in the ability to give birth vaginally. The women lacked follow-up and support after the caesarean section (CS), during the subsequent pregnancy and the forthcoming VBAC. Enhanced support could be a key factor in helping women meeting the challenge and feel confident about giving birth vaginally despite their previous experiences of CS.

Abbreviations: VBAC: vaginal birth after caesarean section; CS: caesarean section

KEYWORDS:

• Women
• childbirth
• VBAC
• phenomenology
• experiences
• caesarean section

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the women who participated in our study. We would also like to thank the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg, for making it possible to perform this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ida Lyckestam Thelin

Ida Lyckestam Thelin, RN, RM, MNSc, PhD student, graduated as a midwife in 2000 and are working at a labour ward at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg, Sweden. She is also a PhD student at the University of Gothenburg, Sahlgrenska Academy, Institute of Health and Care Sciences. Her research is focused on midwives care for childbearing women and experiences and outcomes of vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC).

Ingela Lundgren

Ingela Lundgren, RN, RM, MNursSci, MPH, PhD, holds a position as Professor in Reproductive and Perinatal Health/Midwifery Science at the University of Gothenburg, Sahlgrenska Academy, Institute of Health and Care Sciences, and as university hospital senior midwife at Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden. Lundgren has worked as a midwife since 1986, primarily with childbirth in standard labour wards, Birth Centre care, and homebirths. Her research focuses on the meaning of childbirth in a woman’s life, women’s experiences of giving birth both at the time of birth and from a long-term perspective, support during childbirth by professionals and the organization of maternity care.

Christina Nilsson

Christina Nilsson, RN, RM, PhD, has extensive experience as a midwife in labour wards with normal and complicated childbirth. She currently holds a position as Senior Lecturer in Sexual and Reproductive Health at the University of Borås, Faculty of Caring Science, Work Life and Social Welfare. She also works as a midwife and manager for the non-governmental organization Inter-Cultural Doulas in Gothenburg, Sweden. This organization provides support to non-Swedish speaking women during pregnancy and childbirth. Her research is focused on women’s fear of childbirth and related areas such as experiences and outcomes of labour and birth, vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC), support and the birthing room environment.