Seeking a connection: Women’s lived experience of the woman–midwife relationship in mainstream maternity services in Japan

Abstract

ProblemIn Japan, women continue to suffer from mental health and other postpartum issues despite good clinical outcomes of maternity care. BackgroundAs key care providers, midwives potentially affect women’s overall birth experience. Most women in Japan give birth in hospitals or obstetric clinics where different midwives and nurses provide one woman with fragmented care. Women’s lived experiences of the woman–midwife in these birth facilities are not well known in Japan. AimTo understand women’s birth experience and relationship with midwives in the mainstream maternity care system in Japan to improve maternity care and women’s birth experience. MethodsFace-to-face individual interviews with 14 mothers were conducted. The data were analysed using van Manen’s hermeneutic phenomenological approach, which reveals the meaning of human experience in the everyday world. FindingsFour themes were derived from the hermeneutic phenomenological analysis; 1) Closed hearts and bodies in insecure relationships, 2) Alienation, 3) Hopelessness and helplessness, and 4) Women’s vulnerability and desire for positive relationships. DiscussionIn institutionalised and fragmented maternity care settings, it is difficult for women and midwives to develop a relationship. In such a care environment, women’s birth experience with midwives is negative or even traumatic; yet, women still need and seek the midwife relationship. Respectful care—necessary for women’s positive birth experience—requires positive relationship between women and midwives. ConclusionWomen’s negative birth experience may affect their mental health and parenting. Maternity and midwifery care in Japan needs to develop relationship-based care to improve women’s birth experience.