“Where’s my baby?” A feminist phenomenological study of women experiencing preventable separation from their baby at caesarean birth

Abstract

Problem

Separating women and babies immediately after birth contributes to poor birth experience and reduced satisfaction.

Background

A negative birth experience can impact a woman’s transition to motherhood and emotional well-being beyond the newborn period. Separating women from their baby at birth is known to reduce birth satisfaction and is more likely to happen at caesarean section births.

Question

What is the experience of women who are separated from their baby after caesarean section birth without medical necessity?

Methods

Unstructured, in-depth phenomenological interviews were conducted with fifteen women who had been separated from their well-baby at caesarean section birth. Data was analysed using a Modified van Kaam approach. A novel feminist phenomenological framework with two birthing theories was used to explore the experience of the participants.

Findings

Four major themes emerged – Disconnection, Emotional Turmoil, Influence, and Insight. These demonstrated significant trauma that both the separation and perinatal care created.

Discussion

The participants recognised their vulnerability and the lack of power and control they had over themselves and their baby, which was seemingly not acknowledged. Provider and hospital needs were valued above those of the women.

Conclusion

Woman-centred care was not evident in the treatment of these women despite the attendance of a midwife at each birth. This research challenges midwives and other health care providers to support and advocate for those birthing by caesarean section to return power and control and support them to remain in close physical contact with their baby immediately after birth.