What women want if they were to have another baby: the Australian Birth Experience Study (BESt) cross-sectional national survey

Abstract

ObjectivesTo explore if Australian women would do anything differently if they were to have another baby.Design and settingThe Birth Experience Study (BESt) online survey explored pregnancy, birth and postnatal experiences for women who had given birth during 2016–2021 in Australia.ParticipantsIn 2021, 8804 women responded to the BESt survey and 6101 responses to the open text responses to the survey question ‘Would you do anything different if you were to have another baby?’ were analysed using inductive content analysis.ResultsA total of 6101 women provided comments in response to the open text question, resulting in 10 089 items of coding. Six categories were found: ‘Next time I'll be ready’ (3958, 39.2%) described how women reflected on their previous experience, feeling the need to better advocate for themselves in the future to receive the care or experience they wanted; ‘I want a specific birth experience’ (2872, 28.5%) and ‘I want a specific model of care’ (1796, 17.8%) highlighted the types of birth and health provider women would choose for their next pregnancy. ‘I want better access’ (294, 2.9%) identified financial and/or geographical constraints women experience trying to make choices for birth. Two categories included comments from women who said ‘I don’t want to change anything’ (1027, 10.2%) and ‘I don’t want another pregnancy’ (142, 1.4%). Most women birthed in hospital (82.9%) and had a vaginal birth (59.2%) and 26.7% had a caesarean.ConclusionOver 85% of comments left by women in Australia were related to making different decisions regarding their next birth choices. Most concerningly women often blamed themselves for not being more informed. Women realised the benefits of continuity of care with a midwife. Many women also desired a vaginal birth as well as better access to birthing at home.

The impact of severe perinatal events on maternity care providers: a scoping review

“…This reduces the burden on healthcare systems and contributes to the overall well-being of society, which is an important aspect of social sustainability. It promotes gender equality by ensuring that women have access to quality care and supports the well-being of future generations by ensuring that children are born healthy and have a strong foundation for growth and development [ 37 ]. Furthermore, the emotional toll of these events on maternity care professionals can add to the challenges related to their working conditions, such as long hours, understaffing, insufficient support from management and lack of resources [ 38 ].…”

Incorporating co‐design principles and social media strategies to enhance cross‐sectional online survey participation: The Birth Experience Study

“…In total, there were 54,896 comments given in all open text questions. A content analysis on obstetric violence (Q111; Keedle et al., 2022) and what women would do differently in their next pregnancy (Q118; Keedle et al., 2023) has been published. The research poet used poetry inquiry to create poems from the responses to the birth trauma question and this has been published (Keedle & Willo, 2022).…”