Midwives’ lived experiences of witnessing traumatic birth

Abstract

Midwives working in Central Delivery Suite [CDS] care for women during labour and birth. Unfortunately, midwives sometimes are left to face traumatic birth. This study focuses on the lived experiences of midwives when witnessing traumatic birth. The study aimed to elicit and understand the meaning of midwives’ lived experiences of witnessing traumatic birth. The objectives of this study revolved around capturing midwives’ feelings and thoughts when witnessing traumatic birth, uncovering the meaning of witnessing traumatic birth for midwives and elicit use of any support measures or coping strategies which midwives’ make use of when witnessing traumatic birth. A Heideggerian hermeneutic phenomenological research approach was adopted, and a purposive sampling technique was used to recruit six eligible participants. One-time, one-toone, semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with all the participants. These included midwives employed at the main local hospital who work at the Central Delivery Suite [CDS] for at least a minimum of two years. The research process and analysis of the data were guided by van Manen’s (1990) six-step approach. Hermeneutic philosophical notions and the Beck’s Middle Range Theory of Traumatic Childbirth (2015) guided the study and the interpretation of the findings. Four themes and their corresponding subthemes emerged from the data. The first theme, Nature of Traumatic Birth, captures the multifaceted experiences of midwives, exploring their perspectives on what is meant by traumatic birth. The second theme, Echoes of Trauma, delves into the profound impact of traumatic births on midwives, encompassing mostly the negative aspects of emotional, psychological, professional, and personal impact. The third theme, Adding Fuel to the Fire, highlights exacerbating factors contributing to the perception of traumatic births. The fourth theme, Navigating Trauma, centres on the coping mechanisms and supportive strategies employed by midwives during and after traumatic births, showcasing their journey of dealing with these experiences and fostering professional growth. The main outcome of this study reveals that midwives' experiences of witnessing traumatic birth were impacted by the demanding ward environment and the lack of collaboration with obstetricians. Several findings were congruent with those in the literature. However, unique findings also emerged from the study findings, especially around debriefing, stigma and trauma that does not heal. Based on the findings of this study, several recommendations were highlighted, mainly for further research and implications for practice, policy, and education to better aid midwives. The main recommendations were to take on a more collaborative approach during traumatic birth between midwives and doctors as well as to include debriefing sessions after traumatic birth.