Open AccessPerineal trauma as an existential change: a qualitative study with women experiencing humanized birth
Author(s) -
Raquel Vivancos,
Aline dos Santos Queiroz de Almeida,
Fabiana Villela Mamede,
Alessandra Cristina Marcolin,
Pedro Henrique Martins Valério,
Luiz Gustavo Oliveira Brito
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
medicina
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.104
H-Index - 10
eISSN - 2176-7262
pISSN - 0076-6046
DOI - 10.11606/issn.2176-7262.rmrp.2021.182626
Subject(s) - existentialism , surrender , qualitative research , empowerment , psychology , medicine , perception , postpartum period , obstetrics , pregnancy , sociology , social science , philosophy , genetics , archaeology , epistemology , biology , political science , law , history , neuroscience
Objective: To investigate how women experienced perineal trauma during a humanized birth.Methods: A qualitative study with 22 postpartum women was performed from January to December 2018. The Husserlian phenomenology was used as theoretical framework using individual, in-depth interviews that were audio-taped and transcribed verbatim.Results: Twenty-four categories emerged from women´s reports. During the prenatal phase, we found lack of information regarding perineal trauma, the alterity as a facilitating process to incentive women towards vaginal delivery and the perception of the beginning of an existential transition. During labor, it was noticed trust and attachment with the health professional giving physical and emotional support, the fear of the unknown linking to insecurity, the need for internal surrender to the process, empowerment as a result of trust and commitment, to give herself to the moment and no concerns with intrapartum injury but at the same time, having the possibility to share a decision-making process of suturing(or not). The postpartum period has shown the completion of the existential transition, the body as a place of estrangement, the loosening of some ties, but the construction of new networks of personal support to overcome postpartum.Conclusions: Most of women after humanized birth perceived perineal trauma as an existential transition that was initiated during antenatal period.