Exploring views on normal birth in the Nordic and Baltic regions : a cross-national qualitative study with midwives working in hospital birth settings
(2026) In Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare 47.- Abstract
IntroductionMidwifery knowledge, education and training in practice are challenged in contemporary maternity care by the growing trend towards interventions during childbirth, a dominant risk perspective and medicalised care. There is an ongoing debate about the definition of normal birth, however, midwives continue to advocate for normal birth.ObjectiveTo explore midwives’ views and definitions of normal birth, and how they work to promote it, in a hospital setting.MethodsA qualitative cross-national study was conducted in the Nordic and Baltic regions by student midwives (n = 35) and their university-based supervisors from midwifery education programs, (n = 10). A total of 145 midwives were interviewed individually or in groups. A... (More)
IntroductionMidwifery knowledge, education and training in practice are challenged in contemporary maternity care by the growing trend towards interventions during childbirth, a dominant risk perspective and medicalised care. There is an ongoing debate about the definition of normal birth, however, midwives continue to advocate for normal birth.ObjectiveTo explore midwives’ views and definitions of normal birth, and how they work to promote it, in a hospital setting.MethodsA qualitative cross-national study was conducted in the Nordic and Baltic regions by student midwives (n = 35) and their university-based supervisors from midwifery education programs, (n = 10). A total of 145 midwives were interviewed individually or in groups. A comprehensive thematic analysis was employed.ResultsMidwives’ views on normal birth revealed a midwifery identity shaped by the guiding philosophy of the profession. Definitions of normal birth varied among midwives, influenced by their working environment, individual perspectives, and cultural and socio-political backgrounds. Regardless of these differences, midwives emphasized the importance of meeting women’s expectations and maintaining a supportive presence during childbirth, fostering effective communication with both women and healthcare colleagues to advocate for physiological birthing processes.ConclusionOur findings illustrate midwives’ dedication to promote healthy, physiological birthing processes, which stands as a core value of their profession. Hindrances exist in the hospital birth setting that impact healthy outcomes. The widespread use of the term normal birth is challenging. This study invites rethinking birth narratives supporting exploration of other terms, such as healthy birth, to better capture the philosophy and practice of midwifery.
(Less)
- author
- organization
- publishing date
- 2026-03
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Cross-national study, Midwifery, Midwifery education, Normal birth, Qualitative study
- in
- Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare
- volume
- 47
- article number
- 101198
- publisher
- Elsevier
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:105033507877
- pmid:41724052
- ISSN
- 1877-5756
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.srhc.2026.101198
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- additional info
- Publisher Copyright: © 2026 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
- id
- cebac821-ceeb-4830-a5c2-f4378bc975ef
- date added to LUP
- 2026-04-28 15:03:55
- date last changed
- 2026-06-09 17:47:43
@article{cebac821-ceeb-4830-a5c2-f4378bc975ef,
abstract = {{<p>IntroductionMidwifery knowledge, education and training in practice are challenged in contemporary maternity care by the growing trend towards interventions during childbirth, a dominant risk perspective and medicalised care. There is an ongoing debate about the definition of normal birth, however, midwives continue to advocate for normal birth.ObjectiveTo explore midwives’ views and definitions of normal birth, and how they work to promote it, in a hospital setting.MethodsA qualitative cross-national study was conducted in the Nordic and Baltic regions by student midwives (n = 35) and their university-based supervisors from midwifery education programs, (n = 10). A total of 145 midwives were interviewed individually or in groups. A comprehensive thematic analysis was employed.ResultsMidwives’ views on normal birth revealed a midwifery identity shaped by the guiding philosophy of the profession. Definitions of normal birth varied among midwives, influenced by their working environment, individual perspectives, and cultural and socio-political backgrounds. Regardless of these differences, midwives emphasized the importance of meeting women’s expectations and maintaining a supportive presence during childbirth, fostering effective communication with both women and healthcare colleagues to advocate for physiological birthing processes.ConclusionOur findings illustrate midwives’ dedication to promote healthy, physiological birthing processes, which stands as a core value of their profession. Hindrances exist in the hospital birth setting that impact healthy outcomes. The widespread use of the term normal birth is challenging. This study invites rethinking birth narratives supporting exploration of other terms, such as healthy birth, to better capture the philosophy and practice of midwifery.</p>}},
author = {{Stenbäck, Pernilla and Vik, Eline Skirnisdottir and Ekelin, Maria and Sjöblom, Ingela and Ansule, Ilze and Hasman, Kirsten and Liepinaitienė, Alina and Österberg, Terese and Furskog-Risa, Eva Christina and Borlaug, Torhild and Mortensen, Berit and Sigurðardóttir, Valgerður Lísa and Ólafsdóttir, Ólöf Ásta}},
issn = {{1877-5756}},
keywords = {{Cross-national study; Midwifery; Midwifery education; Normal birth; Qualitative study}},
language = {{eng}},
publisher = {{Elsevier}},
series = {{Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare}},
title = {{Exploring views on normal birth in the Nordic and Baltic regions : a cross-national qualitative study with midwives working in hospital birth settings}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.srhc.2026.101198}},
doi = {{10.1016/j.srhc.2026.101198}},
volume = {{47}},
year = {{2026}},
}