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‘Like a torch that enlightens new parents along a narrow and winding path into parenthood’ – Midwives' experiences by an interview study

Johansson, Margareta and Thies-Lagergren, Li LU orcid (2024) In Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences
Abstract

Background: The core of postnatal care is that midwives recognise the needs of women and new-born babies and provide the highest possible quality of care and medical safety to optimise the health and well-being of new families. The study aimed to describe midwives' experiences in providing postnatal care for families during the first week after the birth of their baby. Methods: An interview study included 18 midwives who interchangeably worked within the models of traditional hospital care, hotel-based care, home-based care, hospital-based check-ups, and specialist care at a breastfeeding clinic at one university hospital in Sweden. Data collected were analysed using thematic analysis according to Braun and Clarke. Findings: The main... (More)

Background: The core of postnatal care is that midwives recognise the needs of women and new-born babies and provide the highest possible quality of care and medical safety to optimise the health and well-being of new families. The study aimed to describe midwives' experiences in providing postnatal care for families during the first week after the birth of their baby. Methods: An interview study included 18 midwives who interchangeably worked within the models of traditional hospital care, hotel-based care, home-based care, hospital-based check-ups, and specialist care at a breastfeeding clinic at one university hospital in Sweden. Data collected were analysed using thematic analysis according to Braun and Clarke. Findings: The main theme: ‘Like a torch that enlightens new parents along a narrow and winding path into parenthood – a midwife's transitional support’ was explored and comprised two themes: (1) Strengthening parents' self-confidence in their parental role by handling over parental responsibility; and (2) Challenging to facilitate parents' understanding of their parental role. Conclusions: Midwives expressed that supporting parents in the parental transition was a delicate task and included balancing mothers', babies', and partners' needs. The midwives guided parents into parenthood during postnatal care in a strategic manner by strengthening parents in their parental role. Postnatal care delivered by midwives is crucial for new parents and their babies.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
keywords
experiences, interview, midwives, postnatal care
in
Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • scopus:85189991621
  • pmid:38581218
ISSN
0283-9318
DOI
10.1111/scs.13261
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
bdbabc5a-83cb-430d-b70f-3d678f2b6764
date added to LUP
2024-05-02 13:24:55
date last changed
2024-05-16 14:43:20
@article{bdbabc5a-83cb-430d-b70f-3d678f2b6764,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background: The core of postnatal care is that midwives recognise the needs of women and new-born babies and provide the highest possible quality of care and medical safety to optimise the health and well-being of new families. The study aimed to describe midwives' experiences in providing postnatal care for families during the first week after the birth of their baby. Methods: An interview study included 18 midwives who interchangeably worked within the models of traditional hospital care, hotel-based care, home-based care, hospital-based check-ups, and specialist care at a breastfeeding clinic at one university hospital in Sweden. Data collected were analysed using thematic analysis according to Braun and Clarke. Findings: The main theme: ‘Like a torch that enlightens new parents along a narrow and winding path into parenthood – a midwife's transitional support’ was explored and comprised two themes: (1) Strengthening parents' self-confidence in their parental role by handling over parental responsibility; and (2) Challenging to facilitate parents' understanding of their parental role. Conclusions: Midwives expressed that supporting parents in the parental transition was a delicate task and included balancing mothers', babies', and partners' needs. The midwives guided parents into parenthood during postnatal care in a strategic manner by strengthening parents in their parental role. Postnatal care delivered by midwives is crucial for new parents and their babies.</p>}},
  author       = {{Johansson, Margareta and Thies-Lagergren, Li}},
  issn         = {{0283-9318}},
  keywords     = {{experiences; interview; midwives; postnatal care}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences}},
  title        = {{‘Like a torch that enlightens new parents along a narrow and winding path into parenthood’ – Midwives' experiences by an interview study}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/scs.13261}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/scs.13261}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}