Barker, Susan A.

English

Bournemouth University Research Online

TitleHow do midwives emotionally support women becoming mothers? A phenomenological study.BackgroundAn initial review of the literature pertaining to how women are emotionally supported becomingmothers was undertaken.  Women are particularly at risk of emotional distress at this time asdemonstrated by mental health problems being the cause of most maternal deaths (Drift 2004).  Itwas found that there were no published studies in the UK and very little literature on the emotionwork of midwives (Hunter 2001).DesignThis study has been conducted using the Husserlian philosophical approach with Giorgi’spsychological method (Giorgi 1985).  Eight community midwives were recruited via apresentation to the community midwifery team meeting and invitation letters requestingvolunteers at a NHS Trust in the South of England.  They were interviewed in 2004 to exploretheir lifeworld experiences of emotionally supporting women becoming mothers. Local EthicsCommittee approval was gainedFindingsA general structure was developed along with four constituents; showing care, tipping the balance,struggles in showing care, emotional experiences.  The stories shared by the midwives of theirexperiences lead to an understanding that emotional support is a special type of care.  This careoccurs in an intimate relationship between midwives and women and nestles in a ‘circle of care’provided by other professionals and the woman’s family.  This relationship developed through themidwives’ extensive communication skills with the aim of achieving comfort.  This caringactivity was only given after the midwives had gone through a process of ‘tipping the balance’.Tipping the balance and offering emotional support created struggles and emotion work for themidwives particularly between their professional culture and ‘being with woman’ImplicationsIf midwifery is to be truly women-centred the professional and organisational barriers toemotional care need to be examined and a way forward developed.

How do midwives emotionally support women becoming mothers? A phenomenological study.

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