Mothers’ experiences of category 1 caesarean delivery under general anaesthesia with the partner present: a prospective explorative study

Abstract

Background

A category 1 caesarean delivery (CD) is performed when there is an immediate threat to the life of mother and/or infant, with an expected decision-to-delivery interval benchmarked to be maximum 15 minutes in Denmark. Often category 1 CD are performed under general anaesthesia to save time. The partner traditionally waits outside the operating room, but since 2021 partners in our center follow the mother into the operating room and stay throughout the entire procedure. We previously found that partners much preferred accompanying the mother to waiting outside. The aim of this study was to investigate how mothers experience category 1 CD with their partner present.

Methods

Qualitative single-center study, involving mothers having category 1 CD over a period of 18 months. Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted three months after the CD, including a screening for posttraumatic stress. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed with manifest content analysis.

Results

In total, 22 category 1 CD occurred. All mothers agreed to participate. All infants survived. The identified themes regarding the mothers’ experiences were: sorrow over having missed out on vaginal birth and on the first moments with the child; feeling in good hands; partners’ presence provided support, both in the emergency situation and during the psychological recovery process afterwards. No mothers had post-traumatic stress.

Conclusions

The mothers felt sorrow over having missed out, however the partners’ presence provided comfort and was helpful afterwards. Staff acting calm and professional helped the mothers cope in the emergency situation. No mothers developed post-traumatic stress.