Washington State Childbearing Women’s Experiences of Planned Home Births: A Heideggerian Phenomenological Investigation

Abstract

The purpose of this interpretive study was to investigate planned home births that occurred in Washington State and to provide meaning. A Heideggerian phenomenological approach was chosen to investigate and interview a purposive sample of 9 childbearing women who experienced at least 1 home birth between 2010 and 2014 in Washington State. The results of this study suggest that childbirth education is an essential and valued aspect of birthing. Childbirth educators can use the findings from this investigation as a means to increase their awareness of birthing in the home. This interpretive investigation can give “voice” to the compelling evidence accumulating that is investigating planned home births as a sanctuary to allow physiological and low-intervention births to transpire.

Factors influencing birth setting decision making in the United States: An integrative review

“…Across 16 studies, external influences on participants' awareness of birth setting options and decision making most commonly included references to media exposure and birth narratives of friends and family 37,38,40,42–45,47–55 . Resources such as the book Spiritual Midwifery by Ina May Gaskin and the film The Business of Being Born were cited as key resources informing specific interest in home birth and midwifery care 50,52,54 .…”

“…Participants in 10 studies discussed the presence or absence of choice and control during labor and birth 37,43–45,47,48,50,51,55,57 . The presence of choice and control during labor and birth unified participants choosing home birth 37,43–45,47,48,50,51,55 .…”

“…Nearly all of the qualitative studies received an evidence appraisal rating of IIIB because they lacked a description of author reflexivity, with two exceptions that received an appraisal of IIIA. 37,38 The non-experimental quantitative studies received ratings of IIIB, and the quasiexperimental research received a rating of IIB. Table 3 includes all ratings.…”

“…In 18 studies, participants discussed perceptions of the relative safety versus risk of birth setting options. 17,[37][38][39]41,[43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52][55][56][57] For participants who chose a home birth or desired a home birth option, they cited fear of unnecessary medical intervention at hospitals as a driver of decision making. 37,39,43,47,49,51,52,55 They expressed concern about being pressured to accept unwanted interventions, such as medical labor inductions, epidurals for pain relief, and cesarean births.…”

“…17,[37][38][39]41,[43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52][55][56][57] For participants who chose a home birth or desired a home birth option, they cited fear of unnecessary medical intervention at hospitals as a driver of decision making. 37,39,43,47,49,51,52,55 They expressed concern about being pressured to accept unwanted interventions, such as medical labor inductions, epidurals for pain relief, and cesarean births. Participants in two studies who previously experienced a hospital birth shared that their hospital experiences felt high risk or unsafe.…”